It’s hard not to be satisfied with the preliminary stages of the Dallas Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator.
Broncos defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard appears to be the early favorite, but casting a wide net is bound to unearth some uninspiring candidates. While Brian Schottenheimer is driving the proverbial bus, Jerry Jones still owns the team. This search isn't going to conclude without some eye-rolling and head-scratching.
That may have happened after CBS insider Jonathan Jones reported on Monday that Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton will interview for the opening. Whitecotton's interview took place on Monday, making him the fourth known candidate to sit down with Dallas' braintrust.
Cowboys interview DL coach Aaron Whitecotton for defensive coordinator job
Whitecotton is very popular in the building. The Cowboys elevated him as the primary coaching voice on the sideline after Matt Eberflus moved to the press box for the final three games.
While he’s clearly the favorite among internal candidates, promoting from within wouldn't make any sense after the defense delivered one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Can you circle anyone on the defensive line who got better under Whitecotton in his first year in charge of the unit? While Matt Eberflus failed to scheme up pressure, the lack of development along the DL really handicapped the defense.
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Osa Odighizuwa wasn't nearly as impactful as his 2024 season. Dante Fowler, who was publicly critical of Eberlfus after the season, produced just 30 pressures and three sacks. Sam Williams had a bigger presence on special teams than on defense, and as steady as Donovan Ezeiruaku was against the run as a rookie, he underwhelmed as a pass rusher.
It'd be one thing if whoever the Cowboys hire to replace Eberflus wants to keep Whitecotton as the defensive line coach. That's fine. Whatever. He seems to be the one non-Eberflus coach on the Dallas staff who has some cache around the league.
But promoting him off the worst defense in the NFL would be an impossible sell and would send a clear message that the Cowboys aren’t serious about winning. It’s that simple: no one who had a hand in arguably the worst defensive season in franchise history should be a defensive coordinator in 2026, in Dallas or anywhere else.
Hopefully, this was nothing more than a courtesy interview.