Reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirm that the Dallas Cowboys have dismissed their defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus. Having concluded the season with a 7-9-1 record and failed to reach the postseason for the second straight year, the Cowboys are now searching for their fourth defensive coordinator in as many seasons.
Following the appointment of former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the head coaching role, Eberflus joined the Cowboys as Mike Zimmer’s successor. His mandate was to rectify a defensive unit that had finished 31st in points surrendered, 28th in total yards conceded, and 29th in rushing yards allowed.
Prior to the commencement of the season, Dallas sent their top defensive player, Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers. In return, the Cowboys obtained two first-round draft selections and Kenny Clark, aiming to bolster their run defense.
Despite these alterations, the Cowboys’ defensive performance remained problematic throughout the season. Stephen Jones, the team’s Executive Vice President, commented on 105.3 The Fan that the squad’s defense lacked a clear identity.
“We absolutely must establish a distinct identity for our defensive unit. I believe we never truly defined ourselves as a defense. We failed to be a team that generated takeaways or recovered the ball. We permitted too many big plays. While there were moments we felt effective against the run, there’s considerable work ahead on that side of the field. I think this is apparent to everyone. We are fully committed to addressing this.”
“Ultimately, our defense requires an identity. I don’t believe we managed to forge one this year. Regardless of whether it’s Coach (Matt) Eberflus or another individual, establishing an identity is paramount.”
“I believe there’s widespread agreement that Coach (Brian) Schottenheimer exudes immense energy, is genuinely authentic, and possesses a clear identity. We need to mirror that across all three aspects of the game. I think we achieved this on offense this year, but I’m unsure if we managed to establish it in our defensive or special teams units.”
The Dallas squad surrendered an average of 30.1 points per contest, the highest tally in the entire NFL, and concluded the season 30th in average yards permitted per game, giving up 377 yards. Furthermore, the Cowboys’ defensive unit failed to generate turnovers or consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks, aspects that were characteristic during the tenure of previous defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
The team placed 30th in forced turnovers and 27th in quarterback sacks. This performance occurred even after the Cowboys secured defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the mid-season trade deadline.
Eberflus concluded the season observing from the coaches’ booth, having relocated from the sidelines for the last three matches. Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones indicated he would assess Eberflus’s performance throughout those concluding three contests. The Cowboys’ difficulties persisted, as they yielded over 30 points in two of the three games.
Prior to assuming the role of the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator last offseason, Eberflus held the position of head coach for the Chicago Bears and had previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, following an earlier period as the Cowboys’ linebacker coach. His record as the Bears’ head coach stood at 14 wins and 32 losses.
