Cowboys Fire DC Matt Eberflus
The Cowboys will once again have a new defensive coordinator next season. Matt Eberflus has been fired after one year in that role for Dallas, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The news is now official, per a team announcement.
For much of the campaign, struggles on defense proved to be a major detriment to the Cowboys. As that trend continued late in the season, support for Eberflus emanating from owner Jerry Jones seemed to wane. Today’s news thus comes as little surprise, although it comes earlier than expected.
Eberflus lasted less than three seasons during his first head coaching gig, with his Bears tenure ending in November last season. His background as a coordinator led to DC interest in general and ties to the Cowboys in particular. From 2011-17, Eberflus served as Dallas’ linebackers coach. He returned to his former team with the intent of improving a unit which struggled last season under Mike Zimmer.
Things did not go according to plan, to say the least. Under Eberflus, the Cowboys finished last in the NFL in scoring defense and 30th in yards allowed. Struggles in the secondary were a consistent theme all year, with many players having trouble adapting to his zone-heavy scheme. Improving at the cornerback and safety spots will no doubt be an offseason priority regardless of who replaces Eberflus.
Dan Quinn enjoyed a strong three-year run as Dallas’ defensive coordinator before taking his second career head coaching gig. His departure to Washington led to Zimmer’s return to the Cowboys in a familiar D-coordinator role. As expected, the decision to part ways with head coach Mike McCarthy last winter also resulted in Zimmer being replaced. That led to Eberflus’ arrival, but the Cowboys now find themselves in need of a fourth different DC in as many years.
Brian Flores was recently named as a Dallas target for the defensive coordinator position. He has thrived in that role with the Vikings for the past three years, a stretch which has helped his stock and is expected to lead to widespread interest around the league. Flores does not have a contract for next season, but discussions have taken place with Minnesota. It will be interesting to see if the 44-year-old demonstrates a willingness to take charge of the Cowboys’ defense as he weighs his options.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, it is currently unclear if any other changes will be made on Dallas’ defensive staff. Further departures would come as little surprise given the team’s struggles on that side of the ball in 2025 but also the trend of new coordinator arrivals bringing in outside assistants.
NFC East Notes: Eberflus, Giants, Biadasz
Matt Eberflus appears set to become a one-and-done DC in Dallas. Jerry Jones‘ comments point to a firing. The Cowboys finished last in points allowed and 30th in total defense. Jones identified the secondary as a particular concern area. The group has already undergone changes, beginning with the Trevon Diggs cut.
“Probably the one that I think was the most impactful is that we had a high expectation in our secondary, and I thought we would be good at all phases of it,” Jones said, via DallasCowboys.com’s Tommy Yarrish. “… The secondary really had issues regarding personnel, time on the field, time at practice. We weren’t ambitious, we knew some of those guys would be getting back [from injury]… I would say that’s the area.”
The Cowboys played a chunk of the season without Diggs, who has battled knee trouble since his September 2023 ACL tear, and placed the recently extended DaRon Bland on IR last month. The team did not see third-round rookie cornerback Shavon Revel debut until November due to a college ACL tear, and Kaiir Elam disappointed following an offseason trade. Pro Football Focus ranks safeties Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson and Markquese Bell outside the top 65 at the position. Changes figure to come there as well.
While Jones said blame for the defensive issues is widespread, Eberflus is widely expected to be out. By 2026, the Cowboys should have a fourth DC this decade. Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- No official decision on Eberflus will come for more than a week, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Nick Harris. The Cowboys will wait on this, planning to conduct a review before determining their staff direction. It could be up to 12 days before a decision emerges. The Cowboys regularly operate methodically here, as their past two HC changes have shown. Eberflus will now wait for his likely pink slip.
- On the Diggs topic, Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the since-waived CB was not the only one to request to stay in Washington after the team’s Christmas game. Schottenheimer denied the other players’ requests as well, via the Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt, indicating such requests would only be granted for family emergencies. The Packers have since claimed Diggs, who made his debut with the team in Week 18.
- Giants ownership will be present for the upcoming coaching interviews, Joe Schoen confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy). John Mara is battling cancer, so it will be interesting to learn how involved he will be. Co-owner Steve Tisch is based in California and does not work in the building like Mara does.
- Brian Burns earned a nice pay bump based on a performance incentive. Burns collected a $1.8MM incentive for surpassing 12.5 sacks and earning a Pro Bowl nod, with Duggan adding the Giants edge rusher’s 2026 salary will increase by $1.8MM as a result. Burns, who finished with 16.5 sacks, is signed through the 2028 season.
- Von Miller also triggered an incentive, with the future Hall of Fame pass rusher’s ninth sack earning him an additional $1MM. Miller played on a contract that brought $6.1MM in base value plus incentives this season. He is interested in staying with the Commanders; the nine sacks were the 36-year-old’s most in a season since 2021.
- Tyler Biadasz is tied to a three-year, $30MM Commanders contract. The veteran center is entering a platform year in 2026, and The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala notes he is due a $1MM bonus on April 1. The former Cowboys starter, whom Jhabvala tabs an extension candidate, is tied to an $11MM cap hit for 2026.
DC Matt Eberflus Trending Down In Dallas
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.
Cowboys To Evaluate DC Matt Eberflus After 2025 Season
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.
Cowboys Activate Trevon Diggs, Place DaRon Bland On IR
1:03pm: The Cowboys have activated Diggs and placed Bland on IR, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Bland may require foot surgery.
11:17am: The Cowboys are expected to activate cornerback Trevon Diggs from injured reserve on Sunday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The move will clear the path for Diggs to return from a two-month absence caused by a lingering knee injury and a concussion. However, he is unlikely to return to the starting role he occupied at the beginning of the year.
Diggs’ recovery and return to the field has been somewhat of a saga. He was designated to return from IR at the end of November and practiced for two weeks in a limited capacity. Diggs said he was expecting to play in Week 15 but was not activated ahead of the game. He clarified this week that he was healthy enough to play and still did not know why he was not activated, though he still was a limited participant in practice.
The Cowboys will make the procedural move to activate Diggs so that he does not revert to season-ending injured reserve, but that is no guarantee of a game day role. Recent updates have indicated a disconnect between player and team with some believing that the two sides will part ways this offseason. Diggs and the Cowboys have both stated that they envision their partnership extending into 2026, but most teams and players give that kind of an answer to such questions.
Starting cornerback DaRon Bland has been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers, so the Cowboys might need Diggs at some point during the game. He appears to be ready to play, but may no longer be a core part of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus‘ plans for this season. With Dallas eliminated from the playoffs and Diggs’ injury history, the team may be hoping that he can avoid a re-aggravation this season that could affect him into 2026.
Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus On Hot Seat?
DECEMBER 18: When speaking to the media on Thursday, Eberflus acknowledged (via Machota) the Cowboys’ defensive performance down the stretch will play a role in deciding his status for 2026. He added an endorsement from the organization is not necessary at this point, although in the absence of a definitive one there will no doubt continue to be speculation about a potential change on the sidelines this offseason. Eberflus will call plays from the booth moving forward after doing so from the field.
DECEMBER 17: Although Dallas leads the NFL in total offense and ranks fifth in scoring, the team is all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs. After dropping to 6-7-1 with a loss to the Vikings in Week 15, the Cowboys’ chances of earning a postseason bid are under 1%, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. It’s fair to place most of the blame for the Cowboys’ lackluster season on their defense.
Under first-year coordinator Matt Eberflus, previously the Bears’ head coach, Dallas sits 29th in total defense. Only the lowly Bengals have allowed more points than the Cowboys.
With the Cowboys’ defense off to a dreadful start in 2025, owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones gave public votes of confidence to Eberflus leading up to the Nov. 4 trade deadline. The Cowboys then made noteworthy deals to acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets and linebacker Logan Wilson from the aforementioned Bengals. They also saw linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Shavon Revel return from long-term injury absences last month.
Thanks in part to an improved defense, the Cowboys ripped off three straight post-deadline wins over the Raiders, Eagles, and Chiefs. They were firmly in the playoff mix at that point, but that momentum is gone after back-to-back losses to Detroit and Minnesota.
The Cowboys gave up 44 points against the Lions and surrendered another 34 to the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy, among the league’s least effective quarterbacks this year, played one of the best games of his young career. McCarthy finished 15 of 24 for 250 yards, three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), and an interception.
After McCarthy helped take a sledgehammer to the Cowboys’ fading playoff hopes, Jerry Jones sounded less bullish about Eberflus. It seems he’ll be under evaluation for the rest of the season.
“The adjustments that we should be making (defensively) should be with these next three games in mind,” Jones said on Sunday night (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “With three games left in the short time that we’ve got to play them in, then that will impact any adjustments that you make regarding coaching with the time frame we’re dealing with. That’s a legit question.”
One of the “adjustments” Dallas made in Week 15 was to give more playing time to Wilson. Jerry Jones noted that was a possibility leading up to the game (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News). Wilson then made his first start as a Cowboy and logged more defensive snaps than Kenneth Murray (29 to 22), but the results were uninspiring. Both players recorded one tackle apiece.
Asked about Wilson and Murray, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News) that the two “can improve in certain areas, and it’s kind of pretty consistent throughout our football team right now.”
Eberflus may need to get more from Wilson, Murray, and the rest of his defense if he’s going to remain on Schottenheimer’s staff next year. Otherwise, Eberflus could follow Mike Zimmer as the team’s second consecutive one-and-done defensive coordinator. The Cowboys haven’t had stability there since Dan Quinn‘s three-year run from 2021-23.
Cowboys’ Stephen Jones Backs Matt Eberflus
Despite boasting one of the NFL’s most productive offenses, the Cowboys entered Monday’s game against the Cardinals with a lackluster 3-4-1 record. A struggling defense has been the main culprit. The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in both points and yards allowed per game, beating out only the Bengals’ historically bad stop unit in those two categories.
While things have gone poorly under under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones is hopeful he’ll return as the team’s DC in 2026 (via Jon Machota of The Athletic).
“(We hope) the situation is going to continue to evolve, which I know it will. Coach Eberflus has been a high-end coach,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan last Friday. “I know right now he’s not satisfied with where we are. We all have to be better as a team, all our players, all our coaches, all our executives, ownership, everybody needs to look in the mirror and see where they can be better.”
This is the second time in recent weeks that Dallas higher-ups have spoken well of Eberflus. Owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly backed Eberflus on Oct. 14. The Cowboys were then coming off a 30-27 loss to the Panthers in which they surrendered 410 total yards, including 216 rushing. Dallas went into Monday hoping to bounce back from a 44-24 loss to Denver in Week 8. The Broncos amassed 426 yards, 179 on the ground, and quarterback Bo Nix torched the Cowboys for four touchdown passes.
Regardless of how the Cowboys’ defense fares against the Cardinals, it seems the Eberflus-coached unit is poised to add outside reinforcements before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Doing so should make his job easier. Jerry Jones said Monday that the Cowboys had already agreed to one trade – presumably a move on the defensive side – and added that they “possibly could make two more.” A report has since linked the Cowboys to two Bengals defenders, end Trey Hendrickson and linebacker Logan Wilson, as well as Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb.
As an elite pass rusher, Hendrickson would be the highest-impact (not to mention the most expensive) acquisition of the three. He’d also help the Cowboys replace departed superstar Micah Parsons, whom they traded to the Packers before the season.
On the heels of a 14-32 stint as the Bears’ head coach, Eberflus has drawn plenty of criticism in his new post with the Cowboys this year. However, the team’s decision to jettison Parsons in late August hasn’t done Eberflus any favors. Having successfully coordinated the Colts’ defense from 2018-21, the Cowboys aren’t ready to give up on the 55-year-old. Depending on how the deadline unfolds, Eberflus could have more talent to work with when the Cowboys come off a Week 10 bye.
Cowboys Endorse DC Matt Eberflus
Especially in the wake of the Micah Parsons trade taking place one week before the start of the season, the Cowboys entered 2025 with questions on defense. That side of the ball has indeed been a sore spot so far.
Through Week 6, Dallas sits at the bottom of the league in total defense and 31st in points allowed. As such, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has increasingly drawn criticism for his performance to date. The former Bears head coach is in his second Cowboys stint, and it is not in danger of ending any time soon.
“Matt Eberflus is a damn good football coach,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about potential staffing changes (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have to perform better. But I’ve been him, so part of me being in [the defensive meeting room] is to help as an asset, to tell him, ‘I believe in him. I understand what he’s going through…’ We’re gonna ride this thing out. And we’ll play better. We really will.”
After his first Cowboys stint – as the team’s linebackers coach – Eberflus spent four years as defensive coordinator of the Colts. Indianapolis posted a top-10 finish in points allowed three times under Eberflus, and he parlayed that strong coordinator showing into a head coaching gig. Things did not go according to plan in Chicago, though, and the 55-year-old was fired before his third season in charge was complete. Improvement will be needed if Eberflus is to rebuild his stock during his current Cowboys tenure.
“He’s had tremendous experience,” owner Jerry Jones said on today’s 105.3 The Fan appearance when offering an additional endorsement of Eberflus (h/t Machota). “He’s dealt with adversity. He’s had some great successes… I jumped at it when we had the chance to get him. I still feel as strongly [about him as the day we hired him].”
The Cowboys currently lead the league in total offense and rank third in the NFL in scoring. That has only resulted in a 2-3-1 record, however, in large part due to the shortcomings of Eberflus’ unit. It will be interesting to see if trades and/or free agent pickups are sought out to bolster the defense over the coming weeks. In any case, Eberflus’ job security early in his return to Dallas should not be regarded as uncertain at this point.
Caleb Williams’ Camp Tried To Avoid Bears In 2024 Draft
With Caleb Williams slated to go first-overall to the Bears in the 2024 draft, the quarterback’s camp considered some unconventional options in an attempt to avoid Chicago. In Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book, “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” there are some notable anecdotes (via ESPN.com) surrounding Williams’ wariness of going to the Bears.
The player’s father, Carl Williams, described Chicago as “the place quarterbacks go to die,” with the QB himself questioning his ability to succeed in then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron‘s system. Williams’ camp went as far as considering circumventing the draft altogether, consulting with lawyers about ways they could get “around the league’s collective bargaining agreement.” One of the considered options would have seen Williams signing with the United Football League.
Carl Williams plainly stated to agents that he didn’t want his son playing for the Bears. Specifically, the quarterback’s camp cited the franchise’s lack of recent success at the position, as well as the Bears’ stadium uncertainty and tepid performance under then-head coach Matt Eberflus.
As Williams’ camp looked for ways for the prospect to choose his own landing spot, Carl Williams consulted with Archie Manning, who helped Eli Manning avoid the Chargers in favor of the Giants in 2004. In addition to his overall concern about Chicago, Carl Williams also had issues with the league’s rookie-wage scale and the fact that any franchise could effectively prevent first-round picks from hitting free agency for eight years.
A conversation with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had the quarterback clamoring for a way to play in Minnesota. After Bears GM Ryan Poles “stood firm” and refused to trade the first-overall pick, the player’s camp considered making the situation untenable by attacking both the organization and the city of Chicago. Ultimately, a pre-draft visit to the Bears facilities stopped Williams and his family from making any public protests, and he ended up landing in Chicago with the first-overall pick.
Of course, since Williams was drafted, the Bears have already seen some significant changes to leadership. Waldron was the first casualty from the Bears’ underwhelming start to the season, and Eberflus also didn’t make it through the entirety of the QB’s first NFL campaign (before that happened, Wickersham passes along a story where Williams studied film alone, without instruction from coaches). The team has since hired former Lions OC Ben Johnson to guide the squad, and the new head coach said he doesn’t have any concerns about today’s report.
“I see a chance for greatness here for him,” Johnson said during an appearance today on The Herd. “He’s been communicated that way and he feels the same way. I don’t know what’s gone on prior to him joining the organization, but he is very proud to be a Chicago Bear. That’s what our conversations have included. He’s really excited to get to work right now and be the best version of himself for 2025.”
Saints Expected To Name Kellen Moore As HC
FEBRUARY 11: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms the Moore hire should be finalized shortly (video link). He adds that Nussmeier is indeed the top name to watch regarding New Orleans’ offensive coordinator spot, while Staley is firmly in contention to handle defensive coordinator duties. In the wake of winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history, the Eagles will soon need to find a new OC.
FEBRUARY 9: Once Mike McCarthy withdrew his name from consideration for the Saints’ head coaching job – the only such vacancy that remains in this year’s cycle – Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore became the clear favorite for the post. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, Moore is indeed expected to be named as New Orleans’ next HC.
Of course, Moore will first try to win a championship ring today as Philadelphia seeks to prevent a Chiefs three-peat and avenge its narrow loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII. In Moore’s first (and likely only) year with the club, the Eagles finished seventh in points scored and eighth in total offense, a performance that bolstered his already strong head coaching stock.
In three of his four seasons as Cowboys offensive coordinator from 2019-22, Dallas ranked sixth or better in scoring, and Moore became a popular name on the head coaching circuit as a result. While he did not end up landing an HC gig, he never fell below the coordinator ranks, taking a job as the Chargers’ OC in 2023 before moving on to the Eagles in 2024. He was even rumored to be the frontrunner for the Dallas HC post that McCarthy (his former boss) just vacated, before Jerry Jones surprisingly pivoted to Brian Schottenheimer.
Given the Saints’ middling roster, uncertain quarterback situation, and familiar salary cap woes, the New Orleans opening is not considered an especially attractive one, so landing a sought-after candidate with strong credentials can reasonably be classified as a coup for GM Mickey Loomis & Co. One of Moore’s first tasks as the Saints’ sideline general will be to shape the club’s direction at quarterback, including how to proceed with incumbent Derek Carr .
Another clear indicator that Moore will remain in New Orleans after today’s Super Bowl in the Superdome is the fact that the 36-year-old was making calls to potential staffers prior to Super Bowl week (via FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz). ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (subscription required) names 49ers assistant coach Brandon Staley and Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards as potential defensive coordinator candidates.
Staley was Moore’s boss in 2023 when the former served as the Chargers’ head coach, though neither he nor Edwards received a defensive coordinator interview this year. Just as the Eagles’ playoff success delayed Moore’s eligibility to join another club and may have forced the Cowboys to go in a different direction at head coach, that delay also could have prevented Moore from landing some of his preferred assistants.
Klayton Adams and Matt Eberflus, who recently accepted Dallas’ offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator jobs, respectively, were also seen as strong candidates for Moore’s first staff, according to Fowler. Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, who has worked with Moore in Dallas, Los Angeles, and now Philadelphia, is seen as a potential OC option for the Saints if they move forward with the Moore hire.