So, it turns out that the report about the Dallas Cowboys needing 10 to 12 days to evaluate defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus wasn't accurate. Maybe that was the plan, and Jerry Jones turned up the urgency once he realized how many replacements became available on Black Monday.
Whatever the case, ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that the Cowboys have fired Eberflus. It was the only decision after statistically the worst defensive season in the franchise's history.
The 2025 Cowboys finished with the fourth-worst defense in DVOA history. They ranked dead last in EPA per play and total EPA, 30th in defensive success rate, 31st in EPA per pass, and 30th in EPA per rush. They also became the first team in franchise history to allow more than 500 points in a season.
Cowboys officially fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus
Much to the chagrin of Cowboys fans, Jerry Jones advocated for Eberflus even as the defense allowed more than 30 points in five of its first eight games.
However, Jones' tone shifted dramatically after the Cowboys allowed 44 points in their massive Week 14 clash against the Detroit Lions in front of a national audience. They followed that by surrendering 34 points to J.J. McCarthy the following week on Monday Night Football. That seemed to be Jones' breaking point, as he repeatedly eviscerated the defense on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
It took a while for Cowboys fans to believe that Jones would actually make a change. He preached the importance of continuity, even as the defense cycled through its third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. That number will now rise to four in four years, but keeping Matt Eberflus in the name of continuity would have been franchise malpractice. Continuity, after all, is largely a myth in today’s NFL given the constant year-to-year turnover of both players and coaching staffs.
Nonetheless, the nightmare is over.
More importantly, Dallas didn’t drag its feet. Firing Matt Eberflus just two days after the season ended allows the Cowboys to cast a wide net in their search for a replacement. The most critical next step is Jerry Jones getting out of the way and allowing Brian Schottenheimer to make the hire.