In the midst of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the teams who did not qualify for the postseason have been hard at work preparing for the 2026 campaign.
The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams, and they have been scouring the defensive coordinator market after relieving Matt Eberflus of his duties.
Offensively, the Cowboys had one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, led by QB Dak Prescott and what many can argue has been his best season performance, to date.
However, defensively, it was the worst defensive performance in franchise history.
Maybe losing All-Pro EDGE Micah Parsons had a big part in that?
It’s no secret. Even the Cowboys themselves admitted they would need to scheme pass rush after losing one of the best one-on-one pass rush winners in the league.
I just don’t think anyone expected the drop off to be so steep.
Something needs to change to take advantage of the talent that the defense does have remaining, and that has been the Cowboys’ focus since the end of the regular season.
There are four candidates that the Cowboys have either interviewed or are planning to interview in the future, and they all share one common denominator.
Stumping Dak
Credit to Twitter/X user Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) for doing the research to find out that there were only four games this season where Cowboys QB Dak Prescott did not throw a touchdown pass.
- Week 1 at Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 8 at Denver Broncos
- Week 15 vs Minnesota Vikings
- Week 18 at New York Giants
Lo and behold, the Dallas Cowboys are interviewing a member of each one of those defensive staffs for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Let’s take a look at each of those members, and just what they can bring to the Cowboys’ defense in 2026 if given a chance.
Christian Parker
Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Philadelphia Eagles
One of the top names in the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator search is Philadelphia Eagles’ Passing Game Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach, Christian Parker.
Parker is receiving attention from several teams, and his next interview is scheduled to be with the Green Bay Packers.
Dallas has an interview scheduled with Parker for Wednesday, in person, should the Packers even let him leave the building.
Parker is a rising star in the coaching ranks, and has coached up one of the best defensive units in the NFL over the past couple of seasons: the Philadelphia secondary.
Players like cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and safety Reed Blankenship have proven Parker’s coaching on the field.
Imagine what Parker could accomplish with DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, and Caelen Carson.
Parker would be a great addition to the Cowboys’ franchise to lead the defense moving forward.
Jim Leonhard
Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator, Denver Broncos
One of the bigger and more sought-after names in this coordinator cycle is Jim Leonhard.
Leonhard is the Assistant Head Coach and Passing Game Coordinator for the Denver Broncos, who just so happen to be the best defense in the NFL throughout the regular season.
The Broncos also find themselves on the doorstep of the Super Bowl in a matchup with the New England Patriots to crown the AFC Champion.
For that reason, no teams may schedule interviews with Leonhard until the Broncos’ season is over.
Leonhard would definitely bring some juice back to a Cowboys’ secondary after seeing what he has done with Patrick Surtain Jr., Riley Moss, Talanoa Hufanga, and Ja’Quan McMillan.
If the Broncos keep winning, the Cowboys may not be able to afford to wait.
Daronte Jones
Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Minnesota Vikings
Another name gaining traction in the coaching ranks is Minnesota Vikings’ Passing Game Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach, Daronte Jones.
Jones has coached players like Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Harrison Smith, and Theo Jackson.
He is part of the Brian Flores coaching tree, and Flores has been successful in every place he has been.
Prescott was held to his second-lowest completion percentage of the season (60.5%), and failed to reach 300 yards passing despite 38 attempts.
Charlie Bullen
Interim Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach, New York Giants
One of the more under-the-radar interviews the Cowboys have scheduled is with New York Giants interim defensive coordinator, Charlie Bullen.
Bullen, who is also the Giants outside linebackers coach, took over the reins of the defense after Shane Bowen was fired midseason.
The Giants defense improved in all facets, and even held Prescott without a touchdown pass for the first time 2020.
Bullen has support inside the Giants building to remain the coordinator, but Dallas is just one of the several landing spots he can consider.
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