The Cowboys are searching high and wide for their next defensive coordinator, with Jonathan Gannon among those coming in for a second visit.
When the Dallas Cowboys fired Matt Eberflus after a horrific 2025 season, many wondered who the team would hire to replace him.
But perhaps the most important question to ask, even before thinking that, was how wide would their search be?
Well, we've just moved from "wide'' to "deep'' ... with second interviews now being scheduled.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, in a chat with Tommy Yarrish of dallascowboys.com, hinted that the franchise could add to that list. ... and he added something else important.
"I think we're in the initial run," Jones said. "We're going to cast a wide net, whether it's half a dozen, ten, 12 coaches when it's all said and done. I don't know what that number will be, but then we'll narrow it down.''
And ...
"We're already starting to narrow it down and we'll start to bring guys in for in-person interviews,'' Jones added, "some of the guys that we felt were the guys that would fit."
The first group of interviewees?
Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda.
New York Giants interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen.Green Bay Packers defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington.
Ex Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Minnesota Vikings pass game coordinator Daronte Jones.
Denver Broncos assistant and passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Philadelphia Eagles DBs coach and pass-game coordinator Christian Parker.
Current Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton.
On Friday, it's being reported that Parker, Gannon and Daronte Jones are coming in to The Star for their second interviews. (h/t @toddarcher.)
We know that over the years, Dallas' coaching "searches" have resembled a circus with only a handful of candidates. That didn't fly with Cowboys Nation. Nor should it.
So, there was hope that with Brian Schottenheimer now in the big chair, things would be different.
Well, Schotty spoke at the end-of-season press conference that he wanted to cast a wide net in search of the next defensive coordinator.
That's a start.
But we know that Jerry Jones often likes to lead these searches, and that led some to think this would follow the same lines.
Thankfully it hasn't.
A source told our own Mike Fisher that Schottenheimer has "both hands on the wheel" of this coordinator search.
And if you were under any inclination that it wasn't true, just look at how many candidates the Cowboys have either already interviewed, or have requested permission to interview.
That's nine already, and we would imagine that more will follow.
Dallas hasn't interviewed Brian Flores or Jim Schwartz yet, in part because both are seeking head coaching jobs. If that idea falls through, then Dallas might circle back.
We'd suggest that Leonhard's second interview is likely coming ... but he's busy with a Bills-at-Broncos playoff game this weekend.
But one big thing here is Schottenheimer is staying true to his word.
He wants this to be a proper search. Turn over every stone to get the right person.
Jim Leonhard is the top name consistently being mentioned, but Schottenheimer is still surveying the land to get all the information.
Fish often talks about interviewing 15 or more candidates.
Not because you want to hire all 15, but to get them to tell you what they think about your franchise.
Get as much information as you can to not only find the best candidate, but also improve your franchise. Pick their brains.
And while it might only be the early stages of the interview cycle, it appears Schottenheimer is doing just that.
The net is wide, my friends, and that's a good place to start. ... with the net also moving toward getting deeper.