The Dallas Cowboys have officially initiated a defensive overhaul by terminating the contract of first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday.
Eberflus, who previously served as head coach for the Chicago Bears, was anticipated to be dismissed after a season that saw his defense finish 30th in yards allowed and last in defensive scoring.
The struggles on defense became particularly evident as the Cowboys” potent offense was hindered by a unit that lost All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons in a trade to the Green Bay Packers prior to the season. Eberflus, who had not coached since his midseason firing in Chicago during 2024, was unable to generate a sufficient pass rush.
In the previous year, the Cowboys recorded an impressive 52 sacks, ranking third in the NFL, but this season, that number plummeted to just 35. As a result, opposing quarterbacks were given ample time to throw, completing 68.5 percent of their passes against Dallas, placing the team 30th out of 32 franchises in that statistic.
Perhaps the most alarming statistic was that the Cowboys were the only defense in the league to concede points on more than half of their opponents” possessions during 2025.
While the dismissal of Eberflus is expected to become official on Tuesday, it has already been widely reported by various media outlets. The job security of first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer appears stable for the moment, primarily due to his success with the offense.
As the Cowboys search for Eberflus” successor, several candidates are emerging. Notably, Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, is set to enter free agency after the season. Flores has gained recognition for his blitz-oriented defense, which ranked third in yards allowed this season.
Similar to the Cowboys, the Vikings finished their season with a record of 9-8, finding success predominantly on the defensive side of the ball, where Flores effectively utilized a mix of role players to create a formidable unit.
Additionally, veteran defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris are rumored to be in consideration for the position in Dallas.
