Who could be the Cowboys’ next defensive coordinator? Here are seven candidates
On Tuesday morning, the Dallas Cowboys moved on from defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, firing him after one season that saw the team give up a franchise record 511 points and a league-worst 30.1 points per game.
Now, the search begins for his replacement, and more pressure than ever will be put on making the right hire. With it being the fourth defensive coordinator for the team in as many years, getting the hire right is crucial toward consistency and the future success of the defensive unit.
Here are seven names that could make sense as the Cowboys cast their net to find their next defensive leader:
Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator
Something to know going into the search: The Cowboys will not be able to interview any current defensive coordinator without the other team’s approval. Those situations are rarely granted across the league.
However, Flores will see his contract expire in the coming days, and at that point he will be free to interview with any team. Minnesota does have a period with exclusive negotiating rights, but he is also expected to be a candidate for head coaching opportunities, including the Las Vegas Raiders.
After the Vikings’ 34-26 win over the Cowboys on Dec. 14, head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones publicly praised Flores’ unit for its ability to get to the quarterback and affect the game. Now, they could have their chance to bring him in.
Scheme: heavy blitz rate, disguised coverages, veteran defensive backs needed
Jonathan Gannon, former Cardinals head coach
Since 2011, the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys has been a former head coach. Flores fits that bill, and so does Gannon after he was fired from Arizona on Monday.
Familiarity has also been a key driving point to a lot of the Cowboys’ hires over the years. And while Gannon doesn’t have direct experience in Dallas, he does have experience coaching alongside Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. Additionally, he has familiarity in the division after leading the Eagles’ defense in 2021 and 2022 — posting top-10 units each season.
While his three-year tenure in Arizona never got off the ground (15-36 record), his proven experience as a coordinator in the division could lead to some interest from Dallas.
Scheme: Aggressive in pass rush, adaptable to players
Jim Leonhard, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator
A former 10-year NFL defensive back, Leonhard was on the same New York Jets team that Schottenheimer was offensive coordinator for from 2009 to 2011, and he has since made his own name in the coaching world.
After retiring in 2015, Leonhard returned to his alma mater, Wisconsin, to be the defensive backs coach in 2016 and defensive coordinator for the Badgers from 2017 to 2022. In 2024, he made the jump to the NFL to be the defensive pass game coordinator for Denver, where he has excelled in his two seasons.
This season, the Broncos’ secondary allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards in the NFL and the fourth-fewest passing touchdowns. It was a top-three scoring defense for the second season in a row under Leonhard, and it put together the second-best defense in total yards allowed as well.
Scheme: Disguised blitzes, complex pressure looks, match zone coverages
Jeff Ulbrich, Falcons defensive coordinator
While Ulbrich is technically still under employment by Atlanta, the franchise fired head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday and could gut the whole staff before it’s all said and done.
And if the Cowboys are looking for an element of consistency from its 2025 staff, bringing Ulbrich in could provide that. With defensive tackle Quinnen Williams a key part of the defense moving forward, the four-time Pro Bowler would reunite with the defensive coordinator who helped vault his game to one of the best in the league while he was with the New York Jets. It could also make sense to retain Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton on any future staff, and this hire would allow for a seamless transition.
Also, Ulbrich coached under Dan Quinn for six seasons when the two were in Atlanta. Considering the Cowboys’ defense hasn’t been up to par since Quinn was leading the unit, bringing in one of his disciples could get it the unit back on track.
Scheme: Attack-style man coverage, experienced pass rushers needed
Jim Schwartz, Browns defensive coordinator
Now, this one is a long shot. But if Cleveland somehow does not retain Schwartz as head coach or defensive coordinator, he would be one of the best defensive coordinator candidates on the open market.
Although the Browns finished 5-12, Schwartz’s defense produced the best pass rushing season from a player in NFL history with defensive end Myles Garrett accounting for an NFL record 23 sacks. Despite the disaster of a season in Cleveland, Schwartz’s unit was fourth in yards allowed and third in passing yards allowed.
An added bonus is his experience in the NFC East when he was the defensive coordinator for the Eagles from 2016 to 2020.
Scheme: Attack-style 4-3 front, not a lot of blitzing, man coverage
Wink Martindale, former Michigan defensive coordinator
Another candidate with experience in the NFC East, Martindale could look to jump back to the NFL after the disaster surrounding Sherrone Moore at the University of Michigan this past season.
Martindale was an assistant in the NFL for 20 seasons, most recently as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants in 2022 and 2023. From 2018 to 2020 as defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, Martindale helped put together three consecutive top-three scoring defenses and three consecutive top-10 rush defenses.
Some things would definitely have to align here, but grabbing one of the people responsible for the Ravens’ decade of dominance on the defensive side of the ball could be an enticing option if the net is cast wide.
Scheme: Disguised and complex blitz packages, man coverage, cover 1/3 concepts
Mike Rutenberg, Falcons defensive pass game coordinator
Rutenberg is another name to watch as the dust settles in Atlanta.
Since having success as a passing game specialist with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, Rutenberg has been an intriguing up-and-coming name around the NFL. He then went on to spend four seasons as the linebackers coach with the Jets, helping to make Quincy Williams, the younger brother of Quinnen, an All-Pro linebacker. During his last three seasons, the Jets had the best passing defense and best total defense across the three years combined.
Even if Rutenberg doesn’t get a swing at being a coordinator, he could make sense on a staff with Ulbrich or Morris if they find coordinator jobs elsewhere.
Scheme: Unknown
