The Dallas Cowboys started the offseason on a high note by firing Matt Eberflus. The decision was so obvious that they don't deserve too much credit, but fans saw just two years ago with Mike McCarthy that this team doesn't always know when to move on.
What they do deserve flowers for, however, is hiring Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker to replace Eberflus. One of the smartest young coaches in the NFL, Parker was widely viewed as a future defensive coordinator, whether this cycle or the next.
Parker is still working to put his coaching staff together, but he finally answered the question Cowboys fans have been itching to know since he was hired: Eberflus' top lieutenants won't be back in 2026.
The Cowboys have informed defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, and secondary coach David Overstreet II that they will not return, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Cowboys fire slew of Matt Eberflus' top lieutenants after disaster season
If you needed any more proof that Parker is the right man for the job, this is it. The Cowboys badly needed a full defensive reset, and washing away every trace of Eberflus, harsh or not, was necessary.
While Parker hasn't made any hires yet, the interview process is off and running.
Reports have confirmed that Dallas is interviewing Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon seemingly for the same position. They have also interviewed Eagles assistant LBs coach Ronnel Williams, who was Philadelphia's nickel cornerbacks coach in 2023.
READ MORE: Cowboys strike big trade for stud pass rusher in 7-round mock draft
More interview news broke late Monday night, with NFL insider Jordan Schultz reporting that the Cowboys have interviewed Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin for the same role on their staff. Martin coached under Mike Tomlin for nine seasons, and helped oversee the rise of pass rushers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig.
In addition to Curtis, Borgonzi, and Overstreet, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton is also out. Whitecotton, who interviewed for the Cowboys’ DC opening, has accepted a role with the Titans as run game coordinator and DL coach, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
It technically qualifies as a promotion, but Dallas had already greenlit him to explore other opportunities and was not going to stand in the way.
The defense is officially undergoing a full overhaul. While it’s far from ideal that Parker is the Cowboys’ fourth DC in as many years, this finally feels like a foundation being laid rather than the band-aid solutions the Joneses have relied on since Dan Quinn departed three years ago.