FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys are on the hunt for another defensive coordinator. This marks the fourth year in a row they’ve made this switch. They decided to part ways with Matt Eberflus after he led a defense that allowed a franchise-record 511 points last season.
Now, it’s back to square one. As the NFL gears up for changes, a few names have popped up that fit the Cowboys’ trend of hiring former head coaches for this role.
One strong candidate is Raheem Morris. He was recently let go by the Atlanta Falcons after a 8-9 season. During his time as head coach, he improved the Falcons’ defense from 23rd to 15th in yards allowed and helped them finish in the top 10 for takeaways.
Morris is no stranger to success. He has two Super Bowl rings—one from his time as a defensive quality control coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the other as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. That season, the Rams ranked high in both run defense and takeaways, all while working with stars like Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
Morris has a connection to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer through Dan Quinn, the current Washington Commanders head coach. Both Morris and Schottenheimer have backgrounds with Quinn, which may make a potential collaboration smoother.
Another name in the mix is Jonathan Gannon. After a rough three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Gannon is looking for his next opportunity. He has a 15-36 record but previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Under his guidance, the Eagles made the Super Bowl while being among the top 10 defenses in the league.
Gannon’s defenses tend to give problems to the Cowboys; this season, his defense limited them to just 17 points in a game. He also shares a history with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, having worked together when Gannon was with the Colts.
Both Morris and Gannon may also be eyeing head coaching opportunities elsewhere, which adds complexity to the Cowboys’ search. They have plenty of potential candidates, and whoever they choose will need to bring stability after years of constant change.
The Cowboys have until Wednesday to start interviews and gather a strong pool of candidates. Fans are eager to see who will finally help the team find its defensive footing.
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