The Dallas Cowboys have not yet scheduled any interviews in the wake of firing Matt Eberflus. Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Brian Schottenheimer are all set to answer questions at Wednesday’s end-of-season press conference. It will be the last time they speak publicly for a while, so the process should move quickly once they officially put a bow on the 2025 season.
Even though the interview process has not started, the Cowboys have already been linked to various candidates, including former head coaches like Brian Flores, Jonathan Gannon, and Raheem Morris.
It wouldn't be a Dallas coaching search without some surprises along the way, and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated dropped an utterly astonishing name to watch: Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
"I’d expect the Cowboys to move fast in looking at defensive coordinator candidates with Matt Eberflus officially out. And looking at Brian Schottenheimer’s background, it’d be easy to look at guys who’ve worked with Dan Quinn as fits -- Schottenheimer and Quinn forged a strong relationship on Mike McCarthy’s staff, to the point where Quinn tried to bring Schottenheimer to Washington with him.
Along those lines, Ulbrich and Morris are available, with the idea of a run at Flores or Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia also floating out there."
Cowboys linked with Ohio State DC Matt Patricia after firing Matt Eberflus
While Breer didn't outright say the Cowboys are interested in Patricia, he wouldn't float his name if there wasn't at least some smoke. Patricia hasn't coached in the NFL since a disastrous head coaching stint with the Detroit Lions that came to an end in 2020, but he has utterly dominated college football since becoming the Buckeyes' DC this past season.
Patricia took the reins from Jim Knowles, who helped lead Ohio State to a national championship in 2024. Despite having a remarkably high bar to clear, Patricia took the Buckeyes defense to even greater heights, even though they lost to Miami in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
READ MORE: Cowboys vet took Matt Eberflus to the woodshed before he got fired by Dallas
The Buckeyes finished No. 1 in the country in both yards (223.0) and points (10.0) allowed per game. It helped Patricia to have studs like Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, and Sonny Styles. One of them could end up on the Cowboys in April if the board falls kindly for Dallas.
Patricia oversaw a top-10 defense in points allowed in each of his six seasons as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator. However, the Lions ranked 16th, 26th, and 32nd, respectively, during Patricia’s three years as head coach. That disparity raised questions about how much credit Patricia truly deserved in New England, given that Bill Belichick was calling the plays.
While Patricia is an interesting candidate, he hasn’t coached in the NFL in five seasons. Given the sheer number of options at the Cowboys’ disposal following the Black Monday bloodbath, they would be wise to pass on the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator.