Cowboys news: Dallas requests more interviews in defensive coordinator search

Cowboys add former Cardinals HC, ex-Ravens LB to interview slate for coordinator job – Todd Brock, The Cowboys Wire

The Cowboys get judged on process just as much as results when it comes to coaching hires, which has made the latest defensive coordinator search interesting.

The list of known candidates for the position formerly occupied by Matt Eberflus is now up to six. Vikings pass game coordinator Daronte Jones and Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda interviewed on Friday; Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard met with the team on Saturday. Current Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton made his case on Monday.

Dallas is now scheduled to interview former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, as well as Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr on Tuesday.

Gannon had been the skipper in Arizona since the 2023 season. Despite a dismal 15-36 record overall, Gannon notched two of his signature wins over the Cowboys. The first came in 2023’s Week 3, with the Cardinals pounding a depleted Cowboys squad 28-16 in a game that was never as close as the score suggested. It was Gannon’s first win as a head coach.

The Cards did it again in Week 9 this season, embarrassing Dallas by a 27-17 count behind backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett in front of a Monday night primetime audience. It would, coincidentally, be Gannon’s final win as Arizona’s head coach, as the team lost their final nine contests of the season.Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

The 43-year-old was fired last Monday but is expected to be a popular interview for several open positions around the league, including Washington’s defensive coordinator role and Tennessee’s head coaching gig.

Coaching staff earns a split-decision in Dallas’ 2025 review – Richard Paolinelli, Inside The Star

The playoffs so far have proven that coaching matters, as the Cowboys continue to work their staff going into year two under Brian Schottenheimer.

First year head coach Brian Schottenheimer did manage to invigorate the Cowboys’ offense in 2025. Dak Prescott had perhaps his best season yet. Dallas had a pair of thousand-yard receivers in CeeDee Lamb and a 1,000-yard rusher in Javonte Williams. The Cowboys scored 471 points for the season, the fourth highest in the team’s 66 seasons in the NFL.

The offense wasn’t the issue. The defense clearly was though, giving up the most points in franchise history at 511. Which is why defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was fired last week.

The Three Amigos

With Schottenheimer calling the plays, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams could focus on improving the Cowboys’ rushing attack. Adams had been an offensive line coach with the Colts and Cardinals since 2019. He made those teams’ running games rock solid. He did it again this year in Dallas.

Ken Dorsey joined Dallas as a pass game specialist this year after serving as an offensive coordinator in Buffalo and Cleveland. Prescott’s numbers this season were similar to the success Josh Allen enjoyed with the Bills under Dorsey in 2022 and 2023. All three coaches are expected to return in 2026. That bodes well for another solid performance by the Cowboys’ offense this fall.

Cowboys rumor: Team may have a preferred candidate for their next defensive coordinator – Brandon Loree, Blogging The Boys

If Jim Leonhard is the favorite, the Cowboys won’t be able to hire him until the Broncos are eliminated from the playoffs.

Cowboys insider Bobby Belt for Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan had an update Monday morning on where things stand with the team and their vacancy at the coordinator position. Here is what he texted Shan:

“I texted Bobby last night and I said is there any update, any movement? And he said ‘Nope. They wrapped those three interviews. Will probably submit more today or tomorrow. Would not be surprised if they request Jonathan Cooley from the Panthers, but I think [Jim] Leonhard will be their guy. So they have to wait for Denver to get bounced before they can hire him.’”

Leonhard completed his virtual interview with Dallas on Saturday. With the Denver Broncos set to host the Buffalo Bills this week, the Cowboys will have to wait at least one week to move forward with Leonhard if he’s their guy, assuming the Broncos lose Saturday. Until then, that doesn’t mean the team can’t continue interviewing other candidates to make sure there’s no one else who could impress them more than Leonhard.

Belt also mentioned Carolina Panthers pass game coordinator Jonathan Cooley as a potential name the team could request to interview. While nothing has been confirmed, Cooley fits the criteria Dallas appears to be looking for in its next defensive coordinator.

Leonhard, Daronte Jones, and now Cooley are all involved in the passing game. Ephraim Banda, the Cleveland Browns’ safeties coach, also has experience working with the secondary. By the end of the season, Jerry Jones was open about how much he was disappointed in the secondary play this year.

NFL insider urges Cowboys’ Jerry Jones to do the unthinkable with Troy Aikman – Sayre Bedinger, The Landry Hat

The reason the Cowboys process gets judged as critically as it does is because of how much it all starts and ends like Jerry Jones, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

After seeing how successful Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was with the Denver Broncos, how successful John Lynch has been with the 49ers, and now the Atlanta Falcons hiring Matt Ryan as team president, it shouldn’t be out of the question for the Dallas Cowboys to bring back Troy Aikman. And not to bring him back as some figurehead, but as the man in charge of the operation.

It’s not the first time this idea has been suggested, but ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington suggested it, and there might be more merit to the idea than ever before.

ESPN insider suggests Cowboys give the keys to Troy Aikman

Aikman has been helping the Miami Dolphins in their search for a new general manager, which culminated with the team hiring former Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan. He’s now going to help them with their head coaching search as well.

As this has become public knowledge, it’s sparked some big-brain thinking from some folks in the know, and Jeff Darlington over at ESPN might be onto something here. One of the biggest points of frustration for Dallas Cowboys fans is the way Jerry Jones runs the team. And certainly, as one of the most notable alumni of the franchise, we’ve heard on a national stage how frustrated Troy Aikman has been (at times) about the way Jones is running things.

So what if he were willing to step in and be the President of football operations? Is that something Jerry and Stephen Jones would actually entertain. Sadly, the answer is probably not. 

This Cowboys DC candidate took fans by surprise, but he’s one of the best coaches on his staff – Maurcio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports

The Cowboys need a lot of new bodies in the secondary for next season, so it’s not surprising seeing coaches with an expertise in the secondary being favored as the next defensive coordinator to bring them along quickly.

The Dallas Cowboys threw fans quite the curveball earlier with one of their three known interviewees for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

While fans and media members alike expected them to interview the likes of passing game coordinators Jim Leonhard (Denver Broncos) and Daronte Jones (Minnesota Vikings), it was a surprise to learn they were interviewing a safeties coach: Ephraim Banda from the Cleveland Browns.

As is often the case with position coaches, there isn’t a lot of readily available info on Banda, so I thought I’d reach out to our Cleveland Browns expert at A to Z Sports, Brandon Little. And lo and behold, he had nothing but praise for Banda.

Banda is valued by the Browns

According to Little, losing Banda would be a significant blow to the Browns’ staff. Below is his full insight.

Little: “The Browns made an out-of-left-field hire in 2023 when they brought Banda over from Utah State to coach safeties. Before joining Cleveland, Banda had no NFL experience, so there were questions about whether he would be a good fit. Banda has quickly become one of the better position coaches the Browns have. Grant Delpit has leveled up his game into an all-around safety under Banda’s leadership — and really one of the more underrated safeties in the game. 

“Banda’s most impressive job has to be with former undrafted free agent Ronnie Hickman Jr. Hickman was pushed into a starting role this season after being a backup for two seasons, and he flourished. Hickman had two interceptions and 103 tackles for the Browns this season in 17 starts. According to PFF, Hickman graded out as a 71.6 for the 2025 season. 

“Cleveland losing Banda would be it losing one of its best at player development on the defensive side of the ball. Banda has had a safety group in Cleveland that has played physical, disciplined, and smart. That’s a testament to Banda and the job he’s done with the Browns. The Cowboys’ interest in Banda is bad news for the Browns — though his current trajectory has him landing a bigger job elsewhere very soon.”