Dallas Cowboys fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season
The Dallas Cowboys have fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, a source confirmed to the Star-Telegram on Tuesday morning.
In just one season with the team, Eberflus’ unit was the 30th-ranked defense in the NFL in yards per game allowed (377.0), the worst defense in the league in pass defense (251.5 yards allowed per game) and the 26th-ranked defense in yards per carry allowed (4.7). The team allowed a franchise-high 511 points in 2025 (worst in the NFL) and 30.1 points per game.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement that it “was clear that change is needed.”
“Having known Matt Eberflus for decades now, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for him as a coach and a person,” Jones said. “After reviewing and discussing the results of our defensive performance this season, though, it was clear that change is needed. This is the first step in that process, and we will continue that review as it applies to reaching our much higher expectations.”
The Cowboys will now search for their fourth defensive coordinator in four years (Dan Quinn in 2023, Mike ZImmer in 2024, Eberflus in 2025, TBD in 2026).
Notable names to watch will be Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz if he is not retained in Cleveland, Denver Broncos passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard and Seattle Seahawks passing game coordinator Karl Scott.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores also drew a lot of praise from head coach Brian Schottenheimer and ownership earlier in the season, and his contract is set to expire in Minnesota in the coming weeks.
The Atlanta Falcons put head coach Raheem Morris back on the coordinator market on Sunday night when they relieved him of his duties. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg are also expected to be in the market as well.
Jonathan Gannon was fired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals on Monday and has experience in Indianapolis coaching alongside Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams.
On Monday, players spoke about the issues on the Cowboys’ defense and what is needed to get the unit back on track.
“We got the guys, we just need to put them in the best position to make plays,” defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. said. “That’s it. I don’t care how good you think your scheme is, you just got to evolve around your players’ opinions on some things and try to put your players in the best position to make plays.”
Issues stemmed all season from Eberflus’ reluctance to run man coverage and send blitzes on a consistent basis. After the unit was cemented as one of the league’s worst entering December, the coaching staff elected to put Eberflus in the coaching booth for the final three games of the season. The adjustment didn’t show any improvements for the unit, and now he is fired for the second season in a row after being relieved of his head coaching duties with the Chicago Bears in 2024.
Initially, Schottenheimer had said the team would work on a 10-to-12-day timeline to determine big decisions, such as the return of Eberflus. However, now the Cowboys can use the majority of that timeline to work through interviews and potential candidates.
With just a handful of starters on defense under contract to return in 2026, a major overhaul will come on that side of the ball around its core foundational players such as defensive tackles Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighziuwa, cornerback DaRon Bland, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku.
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 8:35 AM.
