After Matt Eberflus was fired at the end of the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys are casting a wide net in their DC search. At the moment, nine potential candidates have been interviewed, but one who fans would have a difficult time warming up to is ex-Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Since Dan Quinn left for the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season, the Cowboys will now be on their third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. They typically tend to chase former head coaches like Gannon, but it seems like Jerry Jones is finally learning his lesson after Eberflus.
Instead of chasing several polished ex-head coaches, they're searching for young, innovative defensive assistants, which is what this unit needs. However, that's not a lesson Quinn has learned yet, as his Commanders also requested to interview Gannon for their own opening at DC.
Former Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon is interviewing today for the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator job. pic.twitter.com/HCVC4OQTSm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2026
After Matt Eberflus disaster, Jonathan Gannon has no business being considered for Cowboys' defensive coordinator opening
Since the last fired head coach-turned-DC Jones hired worked out so well, it's definitely something he should consider again. Eberflus was just a bad football coach, but there are genuine question marks surrounding Gannon's credentials as a leader of men after his stint in Arizona.
Nobody can deny that the 43-year-old has led successful highly defenses as a DC before, but those Eagles units were among the most talented in the league. His track record in Philadelphia is solid, but his Cardinals' defense ranked 26th in EPA per play and 27th in EPA per dropback on the season.
Jonathan Gannon's total defense ranks by season
- 2025: 27th
- 2024: 21st
- 2023: 25th
For hiring a defensive-minded head coach, those numbers are horrible. It would be one thing if players actually respected and wanted to play for him like a Raheem Morris, but his leadership style isn't the most effective. After all, he pushed Arizona RB Emari Demercado during a sideline exchange.
The Cardinals also lost their final nine games of the season, a streak that saw their defense surrender over 40 points four times and over 30 points six times. It was no secret that Gannon lost the locker room. Dallas cannot afford to bring in another DC who has questionable leadership.
There's been a bit of overlap between the candidates the Cowboys and Commanders have spoken to, but in all honesty, this should be a name where Brian Schottenheimer lets Quinn take the bait and instead pursues current frontrunner Jim Leonhard for the position.