Three defensive assistant coaches for the Dallas Cowboys — pass game coordinator Andre Curtis, cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi — have been relieved of their duties, a team source confirmed to the Star-Telegram.
In addition, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton has departed Dallas to take the same position with the Tennessee Titans.
After the hiring of Philadelphia Eagles pass game coordinator Christian Parker as defensive coordinator on Thursday, all defensive assistants were granted freedom to interview for positions elsewhere while the team evaluated whom to put on his staff.
Whitecotton interviewed for the Titans’ defensive coordinator job, but he will instead land a support role on the staff under head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh and Whitecotton coached together with the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024. Whitecotton also interviewed for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator opening but was not brought in for a second interview.
The only defensive position coach left on the team for now is nickels coach Darian Thompson, although his future with the team remains in jeopardy.
The staff overhaul comes after a 2025 season that saw the Cowboys give up 377 yards per game (30th in NFL) and 251.5 passing yards per game (last in NFL). Two days after the conclusion of the season, the team fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one year.
As Parker works to build his first staff as a defensive coordinator, the team has interviewed former New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin, Eagles assistant linebackers coach Ronell Williams and Minnesota Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon for spots on staff.
It is expected that the team will hire a run game coordinator to pair with Parker, whose career has seen him specialize as a pass game/secondary coach.
The Cowboys could also circle back on interviewees for their defensive coordinator role who do not end up landing a defensive coordinator job elsewhere around the league. The name to monitor on that list is former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr. A DeSoto native, Orr coached with Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.
Game schedule dates, times, locations
NEXT UP: Game dates, times, locations, channel
Rangers ▶
June 12 Boston 10, Rangers 1
June 13 Boston 6, Rangers 3
June 14 Rangers 6, Boston 4
June 15 Minnesota 4, Rangers 2
June 16 Minnesota 12, Rangers 2
June 18 vs. Minnesota, 1:35 p.m., RSN
June 19 vs. San Diego, 7:05 p.m., RSN
June 20 vs. San Diego, 3:05 p.m., RSN
June 21 vs. San Diego, 1:35 p.m., RSN
June 22 at Miami, 5:40 p.m., RSN
June 23 at Miami, 5:40 p.m., RSN
June 24 at Miami, 11:10 a.m., RSN
June 25 at Toronto, 6:07 p.m., RSN
June 26 at Toronto, 6:07 p.m., CW
June 27 at Toronto, 2:07 p.m., RSN
June 28 at Toronto, 12:37 p.m., RSN
June 29 at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m., ESPN
June 30 at Cleveland, 5:40 p.m., RSN
July 1 at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m., RSN
Wings▶
June 9 Minnesota 100, Wings 76
June 11 Wings 85, Phoenix 70
June 13 Portland 84, Wings 83
June 15 Wings 96, Las Vegas 66
June 17 Golden State 91, Wings 80
June 20 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
June 22 at Seattle, 9 p.m., KFAA
June 25 at Las Vegas, 9 p.m., KFAA
June 28 vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m., CBS, Paramount+
July 2 at Connecticut, 7 p.m., KFAA, Amazon Prime Video
TCU Football ▶
2026 season
Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), 11 a.m., ESPN
Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA
Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA
Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA
Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA
Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA
Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA
Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA
Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN
Cowboys ▶
Sept. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sept. 20 vs. Washington, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m., CBS
Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox
Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC
Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox
Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC
Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox
Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA
World Cup ▶
All local matches at AT&T Stadium
Group stage
June 14 Japan 2, Netherlands 2 (Group F)
June 17 England 4, Croatia 2 (Group L)
June 22 Argentina vs. Austria (Group J), 12 p.m., Fox
June 25 Japan vs. Sweden (Group F), 6 p.m., FS1
June 27 Argentina vs. Jordan (Group J), 9 p.m., Fox
Knockout round
June 30 Round of 32: Group E runner-up vs. Group I runner-up, 12 p.m., Fox
July 3 Round of 32: Group D runner-up vs. Group G runner-up, 1 p.m., Fox
July 6 Round of 16: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox
July 14 Semifinal: Teams TBD, 2 p.m., Fox
FC Dallas ▶
May 2 FC Dallas 2, NY Red Bulls 0
May 9 FC Dallas 3, Salt Lake 1
May 13 Vancouver 3, FC Dallas 2
May 16 FC Dallas 3, San Jose 2
May 23 FC Dallas 2, Colorado 1
World Cup break
July 22 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
July 25 at San Diego, 8:30 p.m., FS1, Apple TV
Texas Motor Speedway ▶
June 20 Team Texas - David Starr's Racing School
June 20 Drift n Drag
July 11 NASCAR Racing Experience
July 11 Hearts in High Gear
July 25 Drift n Drag
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 10:14 AM.
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.
