Dallas Cowboys Fire Matt Eberflus After Historic Defensive Struggles: Fourth Coordinator in Four Seasons

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have made another shakeup in their coaching ranks, officially parting ways with first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday. The decision comes after a season in which the Cowboys allowed the most points in franchise history while recording the fewest interceptions ever — a historically poor defensive showing that overshadowed a strong offensive campaign.

This marks the second consecutive season Eberflus has been let go midseason. The 55-year-old coach was previously fired during his third year as head coach of the Chicago Bears in 2024, making this pattern of abrupt exits a concerning trend in his career.

Eberflus returned to Dallas this past season after having served as an assistant with the Cowboys from 2011 to 2017, followed by a stint as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts. Despite familiarity with the organization, his fate was seemingly sealed before the season finale: a 34-17 loss at the New York Giants, which set a club record as the ninth game of allowing at least 30 points.

“Having known Matt Eberflus for decades now, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for him as a coach and a person,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in a statement. “After reviewing and discussing the results of our defensive performance this season, though, it was clear that change is needed. This is the first step in that process, and we will continue that review as it applies to reaching our much higher expectations.”

A Rotating Door at Defensive Coordinator

Eberflus’ departure makes him the fourth defensive coordinator for the Cowboys in four seasons, following Dan Quinn in 2023, Mike Zimmer last year, and now Eberflus. Remarkably, five of the team’s past defensive coordinators have been former NFL head coaches, underscoring a strategy that values experience but has yet to deliver results.

The Cowboys finished the 2025 season with a 7-9-1 record, ranking dead last in the NFL in both scoring defense and passing defense, while placing 30th overall. Despite quarterback Dak Prescott putting together one of his finest seasons and the offense ranking second in the league, Dallas’ defense allowed a staggering 511 points — an average of 30.1 points per game, the highest in franchise history. The only higher per-game average came from the 1960 expansion team, which went winless in its inaugural season.

In addition to giving up points at historic levels, the Cowboys intercepted only six passes, one shy of the franchise’s all-time low, and totaled just 12 takeaways for the season — the second fewest in club history. The team also finished with a minus-9 turnover margin, tied for 29th in the NFL.

Micah Parsons Trade and Personnel Challenges

While Eberflus bore the brunt of criticism, the season’s struggles cannot be viewed in isolation. Jerry Jones made a controversial move, trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons just a week before the season began. The deal netted Dallas two first-round picks from Green Bay, one of which was later used to acquire standout defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets. That trade sparked a three-game winning streak under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, temporarily masking the underlying defensive issues.

However, the streak ended with a 44-30 loss at Detroit, a defeat that exemplified the Cowboys’ season-long struggles. Trailing for much of the game, Dallas had trimmed the deficit to three points with 10 minutes remaining, only to fail at getting a critical fourth-quarter stop — a microcosm of the defensive breakdowns that plagued Eberflus’ tenure.

Scheme Fit and Defensive Struggles

A key issue this season was scheme fit. Eberflus employed a zone-heavy defensive system, which often conflicted with personnel more accustomed to man-to-man coverage. The result was blown assignments, large gaps in the secondary, and an underwhelming pass rush without Parsons on the field.

In the final three games, Eberflus moved from the sideline to the coaching booth in an attempt to alter outcomes, but the results remained largely unchanged. “I don’t really think about it that way,” Eberflus said before the season finale when asked what he might have done differently. “I think about being in the moment and just keep adjusting and learning and growing and getting better. I don’t think I’d do anything differently.”

Despite Eberflus’ defensive shortcomings, his attitude highlights a willingness to learn and adapt, even amid historic struggles.

A Broader Organizational Shift

The Cowboys now face the challenge of finding yet another defensive coordinator capable of turning the unit around. With four coordinators in four seasons, the franchise is at a crossroads, seeking stability and defensive identity. The stakes are high: after three consecutive 12-win playoff seasons from 2021 to 2023, Dallas now faces consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the early 2000s.

Schottenheimer, who replaced Mike McCarthy after a 7-10 finish in 2024, will continue to call offensive plays, leaving the defensive side of the ball as a critical area for improvement. Finding a coordinator whose philosophy aligns with current personnel will be key. Analysts note that a system more suited to the team’s strengths — particularly a mix of man and zone schemes with an emphasis on a pass rush — will likely be necessary to maximize the talent still on the roster.

Looking Forward

The Cowboys’ offseason begins with significant questions: who will lead the defense? Can the team find a coordinator capable of complementing Schottenheimer’s offense while reversing historically poor defensive metrics? And how will the team navigate the personnel changes, including life after Micah Parsons, to build a more balanced roster?

Jerry Jones’ statement made one thing clear: the team’s expectations remain sky-high. While Eberflus’ tenure ends with historic lows, the organization sees the firing as a first step toward returning Dallas’ defense to its former prominence.

For Eberflus, the season was a stark reminder of the NFL’s brutal realities. Even for an experienced coach, success is never guaranteed, and scheme fit, personnel, and timing all play critical roles. For Dallas, the search for defensive stability resumes, as the franchise seeks to reconcile one of the worst defensive seasons in its history with the championship aspirations the organization has long held.