The Cowboys have begun the process of finding their next defensive coordinator.
Remember when it was going to take the Dallas Cowboys 10-12 days to evaluate the 2025 season?
Yeah, me neither.
After firing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after what can only be described as a horror season by any metric you want to use, rumors of who Dallas could target have been flying around.
Several high-profile names jumped to the top of the list, including Brian Flores and Jim Schwartz.
Both are considered candidates that would be top-liners if they were to land in Dallas.
Still, Brian Schottenheimer stated he wanted to cast a wide net on his coordinator search.
And that net has been thrown.
The Cowboys have requested permission to speak with Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Minnesota defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, and the name that has been popping up a lot lately: Jim Leonhard, the Denver Broncos assistant head coach/pass game coordinator.
That is three requests, and we don't expect that to be the end of it.
ESPN's Todd Archer also reported that Dallas requested an interview with Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, but the Falcons denied the request. (We're told ownership wants to recommend that he be retained by the new head coach there.)
In previous seasons, the Cowboys would look at only a handful of candidates, rather than interviewing as many as possible.
Why we aren't sure.
But our own Mike Fisher has stated that having 10-15 coaching candidates come through and offer their thoughts on how your team can improve is invaluable. Even if you don't intend to hire them, pick their brains.
Why not get as much outside information on where your team can improve?
Leonhard is the most accomplished of the three - and he's got a Schotty background.
The bad news on Daronte Jones? He's a Flores assistant ... which means you might not get Flores, who is seeking a head coaching job.
The bad news on Banda? Same thing as it relates to Schwartz.
But at least there is this: Cowboys Nation didn't want the franchise to sit on its hands in this coaching search and waste days while other top candidates get snapped up.
And thankfully, Dallas is being proactive.