Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

There’s been no shortage of coverage on this site concerning the diminishing job safety of Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. As team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones‘ negative comments on the situation continue to escalate, the likelihood that Eberflus gets a Year 2 in Dallas continues to fall. As Jon Machota of The Athletic so candidly put it, “at this point, a second season of Eberflus as DC would be a surprise.”

Early on in the season, as the Cowboys ranked 32nd in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed, the team stood behind its defensive play-caller. Some of the early struggles were attributed to the growing pains of a defense that lost its best player only a week before the start of the regular season. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer preached patience and belief in his coordinator, asserting that things would improve over time.

Even Jones admitted that Eberflus was dealing with adversity and clung to his “tremendous experience” as some buyer’s remorse appeared to creep in. Just under three weeks later, executive vice president Stephen Jones echoed Schottenheimer and his father’s comments, expressing hope that the situation would “continue to evolve” and even expressing hope that Eberflus would return as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2026.

At that point in time, the Cowboys remained the second-worst scoring defense while just climbing out of the basement to be 31st in total defense, as well. A week ago, the unit had worked its way up two more slots in total defense while remaining at 31st in points allowed. For the first time last week, Jones brought up the potential of a coaching change, calling the consideration of making “adjustments…regarding coaching” a “legit question.”

Following a three-score loss to the Chargers in Week 16, Jones announced that no firings would occur in the final two weeks of the season but that a full evaluation of all coaches would occur when the season was over. Shortly following the team’s Week 17 win over the division-rival Commanders, though, Jones was quick to make it crystal clear that he still was not happy with the team’s defensive performance.

“No, no, not at all,” Jones replied when asked if he was pleased with the defensive coaching staff and scheme, per Machota. “We have a lot of work to do there. I’m sorry if I have let my enthusiasm for the win yesterday misrepresent. No, not at all. We got a lot of work to do over there, but we can do it.”

In the victory, Dallas allowed rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt just his second 100-yard rushing performance on only 11 carries. Additionally, the Cowboys only walked away victorious after just holding off a second-half comeback by Washington’s third-string veteran quarterback, Josh Johnson.

The issues of personnel seem to have been removed from consideration when defending Eberflus as of late. While the loss of Micah Parsons is certainly difficult to come back from and multiple injuries have made things even more difficult, the acquisitions of All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson have not been enough to turn the tide in Dallas. In fact, adding to Jones’ frustrations, Wilson didn’t play a single snap in yesterday’s game, despite not appearing on the injury report or being designated as inactive. What’s worse, Jones didn’t seem to know why Wilson didn’t play.

“I don’t have an explanation for you for why Wilson wasn’t in there,” Jones told the media. “We planned to have him in there. He needs to be in there. He has good instincts. The reason we got him was because he reads the play quick and can basically be in his lane of responsibility and react quick…that’s why we got him.”

As Jones seems to struggle to find anything nice to say about his defensive coordinator, it seems Eberflus’ position in Dallas is becoming more and more tenuous. If the team’s season finale against the Giants in any way resembles the two teams’ Week 2 40-37 overtime affair, Eberflus may not even last until his post-season evaluation.

In recent weeks, Matt Eberflus‘ stock has taken a number of hits. That continued today during the Cowboys’ lopsided loss against the Chargers.

Dallas lost 34-17 to Los Angeles on Sunday. The Cowboys entered Week 16 ranked 31st in scoring defense and and dead last against the pass. Especially with those figures emerging after mid-season reinforcements (via trade and players returning to health) on defense, Eberflus’ job security has increasingly become a talking point.

No moves in the immediate future will be coming on the sidelines, though. When speaking to the media after the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic) there will not be any firings made during the final two weeks of the season. Full evaluation of all coaches – which of course includes Eberflus – will take place after the campaign has ended.

That ensures Eberflus will remain in place for two more weeks at a minimum. Beyond that point, though, it will be interesting to see if the former Bears head coach is retained for 2026 or not. Dallas has struggled in numerous departments on defense for much of the season, one in which a turnaround seemed to be taking place during a three-game winning streak. Since then, however, the Cowboys have dropped three in a row while allowing at least 34 points each time.

Eberflus has received an endorsement on multiple occasions in 2025. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and COO Stephen Jones are among those who have backed the 55-year-old, but things have not gone according to plan on defense for most of the year. Mike Zimmer proved to be a one-and-done defensive coordinator for Dallas in 2024, and a similar situation could be playing out in Eberflus’ case.

“I should, if I’m anything, know and have accessibility to the greatest choices that you could have regarding coaches,” Jones said (via Machota). “That doesn’t mean you can get them all, because they may be committed in other ways. But one of the great things about where we are and what we got is we can get good coaches. That’s not crossed my mind, as far as the inability to effectively do something different if that’s what we decide.”

Based on those comments, Jones and the Cowboys will certainly look into the possibility of finding a new DC through an external hire or an internal promotion. Eberflus is a familiar face in the organization based on his tenure as LBs coach from 2011-17, something which will no doubt factor into the team’s decision. A final call will not be made for the time being, but the possibility of a firing shortly after the season ends will remain something to watch for.