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 ▶
April 24 Athletics 8, Rangers 1
April 25 Rangers 4, Athletics 3
April 26 Athletics 2, Rangers 1
April 27 N.Y. Yankees 4, Rangers 2
April 28 N.Y. Yankees 3, Rangers 2
April 29 Rangers 3, N.Y. Yankees 0
May 1 at Detroit, 5:40 p.m., RSN
May 2 at Detroit, 6:15 p.m., Fox
May 3 at Detroit, 6:20 p.m., NBCSN, Peacock
May 5 at N.Y. Yankees, 6:05 p.m., RSN
May 6 at N.Y. Yankees, 6:05 p.m., RSN
May 7 at N.Y. Yankees, 11:35 a.m., RSN
TCU Baseball ▶
April 21 TCU 6, Dallas Baptist 5 (10 innings)
April 24 TCU 8, Houston 3
April 25 TCU 4, Houston 2
April 26 TCU 14, Houston 2 (7 innings)
April 29 TCU 12, UT-Arlington 1 (7 innings)
May 1 at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
May 2 at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
May 3 at Oklahoma State, 1 p.m., ESPN+
May 8 vs. Utah, 6 p.m., ESPN+
May 9 vs. Utah, 2 p.m., ESPN+
May 10 vs. Utah, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Stars ▶
First-round playoff series (Wild win 4-2)
Game 1: April 18 Minnesota 6, Stars 1
Game 2: April 20 Stars 4, Minnesota 2
Game 3: April 22 Stars 4, Minnesota 3 (2OT)
Game 4: April 25 Minnesota 3, Stars 2 (OT)
Game 5: April 28 Minnesota 4, Stars 2
Game 6: April 30 Minnesota 5, Stars 2
Wings▶
April 30 Wings 95, Indiana 80 (preseason)
May 3 vs. Las Vegas (at Austin) (preseason), 6 p.m., Ion
May 9 at Indiana, noon, ABC
May 12 vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m., KFAA
May 14 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
May 18 vs. Washington, 7 p.m., KFAA, Peacock
TCU Football ▶
2026 season
Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), TBA
Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, TBA
Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, TBA
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, TBA
Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA
Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA
Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, TBA
Cowboys ▶
2026 season
Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m.
2026 opponents (dates and times TBA; one home game will be in Rio)
vs. N.Y Giants
vs. Philadelphia
vs. Washington
vs. Arizona
vs. San Francisco
vs. Tampa Bay
vs. Jacksonville
vs. Tennessee
vs. Baltimore
at N.Y Giants
at Philadelphia
at Washington
at L.A. Rams
at Seattle
at Green Bay
at Houston
at Indianapolis
FC Dallas ▶
April 4 FC Dallas 4, D.C. United 0
April 11 FC Dallas 1, St. Louis 1
April 18 FC Dallas 2, LA Galaxy 2
April 22 Minnesota 1, FC Dallas 0
April 25 Seattle 2, FC Dallas 1
May 2 at NY Red Bulls, 6:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 9 vs. Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 13 vs. Vancouver, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 16 at San Jose, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
May 23 at Colorado, 8:30 p.m., Apple TV
Texas Motor Speedway ▶
April 30-May 2 High Limit Racing Stockyard Stampede
May 1 NASCAR Truck Series: SpeedyCash.com 250, 7 p.m., FS1
May 2 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series: Andy's Frozen Custard 340, 2:30 p.m., CW
May 3 NASCAR Cup Series: Wurth 400, 2:30 p.m., FS1
May 4 NASCAR Racing Experience
May 8-10 C10 Nationals
May 15-16 LS Fest
May 23 Bandas y Trocas
May 30 Urban Racing
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.
