Key Highlights
- The Dallas Cowboys have fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season.
- The Cowboys’ defense struggled this year, ranking last in points allowed and yards given up.
- This is the fourth change to the Cowboys’ defensive staff in four seasons.
- Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones stated that the team needs an identity on the defensive side of the ball.
The Dallas Cowboys and Matt Eberflus: A Year of Struggles
The Dallas Cowboys have made a significant move in their quest to improve their defense. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team has fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after just one season, marking yet another change to the defensive staff that has seen four coordinators in as many years.
Season Recap: A Year of Challenges
The Cowboys finished their 2025 season with a disappointing record of 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Their defense, which was one of the main issues throughout the season, struggled immensely, ranking last in points allowed and yards given up. The team’s defensive performance was so poor that they even traded their star linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers midseason, hoping to bolster other areas.
Changes on Defense: A Constant Shifting
The Dallas Cowboys have been a revolving door for defensive coordinators over the past four seasons. Eberflus was brought in after former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer took over as head coach. Schottenheimer hired Eberflus to replace Mike Zimmer, who had been with the team since 2018.
However, despite bringing new energy and a fresh approach, Eberflus could not turn around the defense’s performance.
Before the season started, the Cowboys made a significant trade by acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in hopes of strengthening their run-stopping ability. Yet, even with this addition, the team’s defense continued to struggle, allowing 30.1 points per game—the most in the NFL—finishing last in yards allowed at 377 per game.
Looking for a New Identity: The Future of Dallas’ Defense
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones expressed frustration with the team’s defensive performance, stating that they lacked an identity on defense this season. “We got to get an identity on the defensive side of the football,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “I don’t think we ever established what we were as a defense. We really weren’t a team that created turnovers. We didn’t get the ball.
We gave up a lot of explosive (plays). At times it felt like we were (stopping) the run, but we just got a lot of work to do on that side of the ball.” Jones emphasized the need for an identity in all phases of the game and indicated that they will be evaluating various candidates as potential replacements.
The Dallas Cowboys’ decision to fire Eberflus after one season signals a significant shift in their defensive approach. The team now faces the challenge of finding a new coordinator who can establish a clear identity for the defense and improve its performance, which has been a recurring issue throughout the years.
