The Cowboys move on from a failed coach. Get the latest on NFL firings, hirings, and carousel rumors impacting Dallas and beyond.
FRISCO - It starts with Black Monday - the day after the end of another regular season - and some NFL teams have quickly launched into examining and executing changes to their coaching staffs.
In the case of the Dallas Cowboys? According to his own words ...
"Quickly'' isn't apparently part of owner Jerry Jones' plan.
Except on Tuesday morning - first thing "quickly'' happened.
Matt Eberflus has been fired.
Here's our Cowboys and NFL Coaching Carousel Tracker - who's hired and who's fired, with all the updates and the rumors, too ...
THURSDAY, JAN 8
A year ago, the Cowboys blocked an interview request from Washington regarding tight ends coach Lunda Wells.
But now Dan Quinn is back at it, expressing an interest in bringing the well-respected aide to Washington - with a chance at a promotion.
The Commanders, having fired Kliff Kingsbury, are in the market for an offensive coordinator, with ESPN first to report on their interest in Wells.
Oh, and speaking of tight end coaches, Dallas icon Jason Witten just took the job to fill that slot at the University of Oklahoma. (See below.)
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
After Jim Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens, immediate speculation connected him to the New York Giants.
On Thursday, the Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel ... and the Dolphins are now expected to pursue John Harbaugh.
And the Cowboys have their eye on this.
Why? No, Dallas isn't hiring Harbaugh. But Cowboys brass has so much respect for him - let's call it "respect'' and not "fear'' -that in my visits with them, they really, really hope Harbaugh lands as far away from the NFC East (and the Giants) as possible.
Meanwhile, I am also reporting that Dallas' "wide net'' could include visits with college coaches with defensive experience.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
Most of us knew midway through the 2025 season that Matt Eberflus wouldn't be back as Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator.
With Eberflus now relieved of his duties, attention turns to the coordinator search.
And yes, it is one that should cast a wide net. Not three or four like last offseason.
But what is it exactly that the Cowboys are looking for?
Does it have to be someone who was a previous head coach, because Dan Quinn and Eberflus both were? Or would a first timer be on the cards, similarly to Brian Schottenheimer?
"No, it's not a requirement having been a head coach, and yes, it's possible to have a first-time coordinator," Jerry Jones said.
Ok. So, all options are open. That is a good thing.
In fact, our Mike Fisher is hinting at a very "open option.'' ... and while Fish is soft-pedaling the news ... we're pretty sure this is sourced information from inside The Star.
From Fish: "New Cowboys concept: Schotty says 'wide net.' Jerry says experience not required. I wonder if what Dallas did last year w Conor Riley hiring. A fresh-view college coach on offense helped. Would a free-view college coach on defense help in the same way?
Hmm. The "wide net'' extends all the way to Dallas considering bringing in a college coach to help the defense, as it did a year ago with the hiring of O-line coach Conor Riley?
Interesting.
But now what traits are the Cowboys looking for?
With Jerry having his hand on the wheel with Eberflus' appointment, Schottenheimer detailed what he wants in his next defensive coordinator.
"I think a teacher," Schottenheimer said. "We want to cast a wide net of candidates and find someone that's a great teacher, great communicator, someone that's passionate about football."
That seems fine.
But then Schottenheimer added this. ...
"The ability to take what is complicated information, we want guys that can say complicated information in a simple manner," he added. "I say something to you that you don't understand, I need the ability to say it a different way. The same message, but say it a different way. That's the starting point for me."
Hmm, we are getting a lay of the land now. ... as we're told Dallas will begin making calls this week.
We say that "blue-chip'' interviews would include the likes of Brian Flores and Jim Schwartz ... while also acknowledging that both of them have a chance to be head coaches.
It is clear the type of person Schottenheimer wants, and the fact that he said he wants to cast a wide net is music to our ears. It also hints that he is the captain of this ship.
Yes, Jerry and Stephen will get a say, but it appears this is Schottenheimer's race.
And we like the sound of that.
TUESDAY JAN. 6
After pledging that they'd take their time on the firing of 'Flus, Jerry Jones pulled the early-morning trigger.
Ebeflus, the supervisor of the NFL's worst defense in 2025 - giving up an outrageous 30.1 points per game - has been fired.
Dallas will now search for another defensive coordinator ... which will mean a fourth different defensive coordinator in four seasons.
MONDAY JAN. 5
The Atlanta Falcons dumped both coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday - even though Atlanta closed the year with four straight wins.
And on Monday? There are now six head coach openings (Giants, Titans, Falcons, Cardinals, Browns, Raiders.)
Jonathan Gannon was fired by the Cardinals after Arizona lost 14 of its final 15 games this season. Arizona went 15-36 under Gannon.
Pete Carroll, age 74, was fired by the Raiders after one season - a 3-14 campaign. It seems part-owner Tom Brady will be in charge of the search for new leadership.
Kevin Stefanski has been fired by the Browns after they finished the season 5-12.
Worth noting as it relates to Dallas and hot-seat aide Matt Eberflus? Morris, Gannon and Carroll - who just happens to be a long-time mentor of Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer - are former defensive coordinators.
Hey, I'm just sayin' ...
MONDAY, JAN 5
A centerpiece of this next chapter for the 7-9-1 Cowboys is the fate of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who just supervised one of the worst units in franchise history - and the 32nd-ranked group in the NFL in 2025.
The numbers create a mountain of failure, topped by Dallas allowing an absurd 30.1 points per game. (For perspective: The best defenses this year, Seattle and Houston, allowed about 17 points per game.)
I can envision nothing that Eberflus could say to his bosses in his upcoming "performance review'' that should save his job.
Nor do I see why an extended period of deliberation is needed.
What say you, Jerry Jones? Is there a timeline on the Eberflus decision?
“No, just go through the process,” the owner said - before offering up a timeline.
“Once you go through the process, you know what you want to do,'' he continued. "I don’t think we’ll rush any of these decisions. You got to go through the process and do the work. It’s not easy, it’s tedious. We’re going to be working just as hard this week and over the next 10 to 12 days to get through all of that stuff so we feel good about everything.''
To be fair, Jones didn't specifically say the Eberflus decision would take "10 to 12 days.'' It's more accurate to note that here inside The Star on Monday, the coaches will conduct players' "exit interviews.''
So maybe on Tuesday, the Joneses get around to what seems to me like an easy call - the dismissal of Eberflus?
SATURDAY, JAN 3
I'm hearing Mike McCarthy's name - a lot - when it comes to the former Cowboys coach landing in New York as the new boss of the Giants. Stay tuned.
FRIDAY, JAN 1
Troy Aikman has often talked about the idea of him leaving the network broadcast booth to become the GM of an NFL team.
And of course, Cowboys fans - frustrated by the leadership of team owner Jerry Jones, who acts as his own GM - have long wished that connection could be made at The Star.
But instead, on New Year's Day, it's been revealed that Aikman will have a new role ... albeit a brief one ...
And not in Dallas.
The Miami Dolphins have hired the ESPN NFL analyst and iconic Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman to serve as a consultant to assist in their general manager search, a source has confirmed to me.
Aikman has apparently been working in that role recently as he assists Dolphins owner Stephen Ross in the Dolphins’ search for a new GM to replace the fired Chris Grier.
There are presently two GM openings, in Atlanta and Miami.