The Dallas Cowboys had their end-of-season press conference at The Star on Wednesday. Jerry Jones spearheaded the conversation, and while he previewed tentpole topics like free agency and contract extensions, the team's search for a new defensive coordinator following the firing of Matt Eberflus was the headliner.
Jones intimated that Brian Schottenheimer will have a big say in the hiring process. While Jones will ultimately have to approve of the hire -- he was the loudest advocate for Eberflus when that hire was made -- it's huge that Jones is willing to cede some power.
The conversation quickly shifted to what the Cowboys are looking for in their next defensive coordinator. There's an expectation that the hire would have prior head-coaching experience, but Jones swiftly shot that down with one of the shortest answers he’s ever given.
When asked if head coaching experience is a must for the DC job and if it's possible to have a first-time coordinator, Jones said, "No and yes." (h/t to Cowboys team reporter Nicole Hutchison).
Jerry Jones says the Cowboys could hire a first-time defensive coordinator
While this doesn't mean that the Cowboys won't hire a former head coach to be their new DC, it completely changes the scope of the search.
The phrase "cast a wide net" was used several times in the presser. That isn't often associated with this team, which only interviewed four candidates after it moved on from Mike McCarthy last January. The Cowboys also took eight days to decide to move on from McCarthy, so they are seemingly operating with more urgency this time around.
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The current defensive coordinator pool isn’t littered with first-time candidates, but Broncos defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard fits that bill and should excite Cowboys fans. He’s widely viewed as a future NFL head coach, though he’s more likely to make a stop as a defensive coordinator before taking that leap.
Seahawks defensive backs coach Karl Scott is another name to watch. It feels inevitable that head coach Mike Macdonald's staff will be raided this offseason. Scott is another fast riser in the coaching ranks after overseeing a secondary that ranked first in average depth of target, per Sumer Sports.
No matter which names surface, Dallas’ willingness to consider a first-time defensive coordinator represents a dramatic change of heart within the front office. Whether the Joneses fully follow through remains to be seen, but the fact that it’s even a possibility is a huge development.