Dallas searches for its next defensive architect. Explore the elite candidates, from established legends to rising stars, vying to lead the Cowboys' defense.
FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday morning fired the failed top aide Matt Eberflus, opening the door to the hiring of a fourth new defensive coordinator in as many years.
"It was clear that change is needed,'' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in. statement. "This is the first step in that process, and we will continue that review as it applies to reaching our much higher expectations.''
So, what form will the next step take? Is Jerry the point man in the process (as he was a year ago when Eberflus was tabbed)? Or is a more conventional way - letting head coach Brian Schottenheimer hand-pick his guy - in the offing?
Having covered Jones' Cowboys for 36 years, there are some established patterns to the way he oversees this process. (For instance: He loves hiring defensive coordinators who were once head coaches.) And yet, his recent quote about "dramatic differences'' suggests maybe he's willing to break the mold in upcoming moves.
So ...
Here are my Top 20 Cowboys Coordinator Candidates, driven at least in part by some educated guesses ... and cordoned off into categories ...
SCHOTTY CONNECTION
Pete Carroll - He's a long-time Schottenheimer mentor, came into the NFL as a defensive coordinator, and at 74 knows all the ropes. But does the just-fired Raiders head coach want to keep plowing away as an assistant?
It's worth noting that a year ago, before Jerry hired Schottenheimer, he conducted a casual job interview with none other than Carroll.
Jeff Ulbrich - He had success with the Jets working with Quinnen Williams (now Dallas' best defensive player) and with Aaron Whitecotton (now Dallas' D-line coach.
Ulbrich, who it is assumed will be dismissed by the Falcons as they've fired head coach Raheem Morris, is a disciple of beloved former Dallas coordinator Dan Quinn.
Ulbrich and Schotty were never on the same staff. But their mutual connections run deep.
Clint Hurtt - Same goes for Hurtt, who is now the Eagles' D-line coach but before that was a Seahawks assistant while Schottenheimer was there.
Jim Leonhard - The Broncos "assistant head coach'' was on the Jets roster as a DB while Schottenheimer coached there from 2009 to 2011.
PEDIGREED
Jim Schwartz - Presently on the Browns staff (but available after head coach Kevin Stefanski's firing), Schwartz succeeds as a coordinator almost every where he goes. And yes, he was once a head coach.
This is a blue-chip option.
Brian Flores - He's a controversial figure who wants to be a head coach again. For now? The Vikings coordinator is out of contract and is reportedly a "name to watch'' in Dallas.
This is also a blue-chip option ... though his level of tolerance for "The Jerry Jones Theater'' might be low.
(A flip-side candidate - at least in his own eyes? ESPN's Rex Ryan, who will surely use his bully pulpit to drum up attention - and who would love to be part of "The Jerry Jones Theater.'')
Jonathan Gannon - Just fired as the head coach in Arizona, Gannon coordinated the Eagles in the Super Bowl three years ago. He certainly knows his way around the NFC East.
Raheem Morris - Just fired from his head coaching gig in Atlanta, he's already interviewing for the same job elsewhere.
Gus Bradley - He was a head coach in Jacksonville; now he's the assistant head coach in San Francisco.
Leslie Frazier - He was a head coach in Minnesota; he took the assistant head coach job in Seattle in 2024 and a year ago interviewed for the Cowboys head coaching job.
Mike Pettine - He was a head coach in Cleveland and is now a top staffer under Flores in Minnesota.
Matt Patricia - He was a head coach in Detroit after having won three Super Bowls as a Patriots assistant. He's now an aide at Ohio State. ... with some parallels to another interesting name: Wink Martindale, who has a fine NFL resume but who most recently coached at Michigan.
UPDATE: Schotty says a 'wide net' will be cast. Jerry says experience is not required. I wonder if what Dallas did last year with Conor Riley hiring - a fresh-view college coach on offense who helped - could happen again here.
Would a free-view college coach on defense help in the same way?
JERRY'S TREE
Al Harris - He was miffed at being passed over for a promotion in Dallas a year ago, so he's now succeeding as the Bears' secondary coach. Can all parties unburn the bridges here? Or does his relative lack of experience - he's never been a coordinator - hurt his chances?
Aaron Whitecotton - He's on the Dallas staff as a D-line coach, so "continuity'' would be a buzz word. But if he had some sort of magic wand to fix this NFL-worst defense, why didn't he wave it in 2025?
Aden Durde - He slipped away from the Cowboys in 2024 and now he's a wild success as the coordinator in Seattle. This one is tricky: He's not the play-caller there, so Dallas can't be blocked from interviewing him.
The London native remains highly respected here inside The Star.
Ken Norton Jr. - He won three Super Bowls as a standout Cowboys player in the 90's and the Commanders linebackers coach has extensive experience as a coordinator.
Joe Whitt Jr. - His mentor Dan Quinn just fired him in Washington, which I bet - knowing both men - was a deeply emotional decision. Whitt loves DQ ... but he also loved his time working at The Star as Quinn's top assistant.
Zach Orr - I'm hearing that Orr - a DeSoto native and product of the University of North Texas - might get fired after his two-year run as the Ravens' coordinator.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINEES
Cory Undlin - He was the Lions coordinator for one year, but his most impressive work might be as a top assistant in Houston, where he's held DeMeco Ryans build a dominant defense.
Patrick Graham - He's highly thought of in league circles, but maybe there's more to learn even though he's been a coordinator for three teams. Why? Because his Dolphins, his Giants and most recently his Raiders were never all that good.
Given Jerry's history? A guy who's been a head coach - as opposed to a "trainee'' - is something to look for. Given Schottenheimer's voice? Somebody with whom he shares a tie, or at least a common background, would also track.
In the end, maybe Jerry and Schotty hit on a guy who comes close to meeting both those visions. But no matter who is picked, it cannot possibly work out as poorly as the Eberflus choice did.