Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesAli JawadThu, January 15, 2026 at 3:11 AM UTC·4 min readThe Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator search has been rolling.
After firing Matt Eberflus following a 7-9-1 season in which Dallas finished near the bottom of the league defensively, the front office has wasted no time casting a wide net.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThrough Jan. 14, the Cowboys have now reached nine total candidates.
Here is a look at all the names on Dallas’ search radar.
January 8, 2026
Daronte Jones (Vikings — Defensive pass game coordinator/DBs coach)Jones has been in Minnesota since 2022 and became defensive pass game coordinator in 2023, giving him direct involvement in weekly coverage planning and matchup adjustments. He also has coordinator experience from the college level, serving as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
Jim Leonhard (Broncos — Assistant head coach/Defensive pass game coordinator)Leonhard is one of the names that jumps off the list. Denver’s assistant head coach is widely respected as a teacher and organizer and brings coordinator experience as Wisconsin’s former defensive coordinator. Schottenheimer also referenced his history with Leonhard from their playing days.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEphraim Banda (Browns — Safeties coach)Banda brings recent coordinator experience from the college ranks (Utah State and Miami) and has spent the past three seasons coaching inside an NFL secondary room — a notable detail for a Cowboys defense that struggled in the defensive backfield throughout 2025.
January 12, 2026
Aaron Whitecotton (Cowboys — Defensive line coach)Whitecotton is the in-house candidate. He joined Dallas last offseason after spending four years (2021–24) as the Jets’ defensive line coach, with New York finishing inside the top 12 in sacks in three of his four seasons there. His arrival also reunited him with Quinnen Williams, acquired by the Cowboys in a November trade.Late in the season, Whitecotton’s responsibilities expanded when Eberflus moved up to the booth for the final three games, leaving Whitecotton to handle in-game defensive adjustments from the sideline.
Zach Orr (Ravens — Defensive coordinator)Orr was named Baltimore’s defensive coordinator in 2024 after beginning his coaching career as a defensive analyst in 2017. He coached linebackers in Jacksonville in 2021 before returning to Baltimore in 2023 as inside linebackers coach, setting the stage for his promotion. Even with a down year in 2025, Orr has led defenses that ranked top 10 against the run in each of the past two seasons, and his 2024 unit ranked top 10 overall and ninth in scoring. Orr also brings a playing background and is a DeSoto High School and University of North Texas product.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJonathan Gannon (Former Cardinals HC / Former Eagles DC)Gannon is the first former head coach to enter the mix. He most recently coached Arizona from 2023–25, posting a 15-36 record before the sides parted ways following a 3-14 season. Before that, Gannon spent two seasons (2021–22) as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, including a 2022 defense that ranked eighth and helped Philadelphia reach Super Bowl LVII.
January 14, 2026
Christian Parker (Eagles — Passing game coordinator/DB coach)Parker, 34, was hired by Philadelphia in 2024. Across the past two seasons, the Eagles have ranked No. 1 and No. 8 in pass defense, and Parker has been closely tied to the development of young defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, both of whom earned First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2025. Parker was also part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs, where DeJean recorded a pick-six off Patrick Mahomes.
Charlie Bullen (Giants — Interim defensive coordinator)Dallas has requested to interview the Giants’ interim DC and is reportedly awaiting permission from New York. Bullen, 41, was hired by the Giants in 2024 as outside linebackers coach and was promoted to interim defensive coordinator after Shane Bowen was fired last November. Before New York, he coached outside linebackers/pass rush at Illinois in 2023, and spent a decade in the NFL from 2012–22, including stops with the Dolphins (2013–18) and Cardinals (2019–22).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDeMarcus Covington (Packers — Defensive line coach/Run game coordinator)Covington, 36, was hired by the Packers before the 2025 season and is now coaching a Green Bay defensive front that acquired Micah Parsons from Dallas before the season began. Covington previously spent eight seasons with the Patriots (2017–24), where he worked his way up to defensive coordinator in 2024 and was part of the organization during its Super Bowl LIII run. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo first reported the Cowboys’ request.
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