After weeks of speculation about Mike Zimmer's future, the Dallas Cowboys have finally hired a defensive coordinator. Per team reporter Patrik Walker, Dallas has reached a multi-year agreement with Matt Eberflus to succeed Zimmer in the defensive coordinator role.
Zimmer returning for a second year was always a long shot. While it was reported early on after Dallas moved on from Mike McCarthy that Zimmer would have interest in the head coaching job, the 68-year-old is now expected to retire after 23 years of coaching in the NFL.
The Cowboys are still searching for an offensive coordinator and other prominent spots on Brian Schottenheimer's staff, but hiring Eberflus as defensive coordinator is a great start.
Eberflus was immediately circled as the favorite for the DC job. The search expanded to Bears secondary coach Andre Curtis and Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow, but Eberflus was the prohibitive favorite from the onset of the search.
Who is Cowboys' defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus?
If Eberflus' name sounds familiar that's because he served as Bears head coach the last three seasons. He was fired in November amid a 4-8 start and 14-32, but he helped Chicago finish 13th in scoring defense in 2024 and No. 12 in total defense last season.
Eberflus' coaching career began in 1992 as a student assistant at his alma mater, Toledo. The Ohio native quickly ascended up the ranks before becoming Missour's defensive coordinator in 2001. He held that title for seven seasons before getting his first NFL gig as the Browns linebackers coach in 2009.
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Just two years later, Eberflus was hired by the Cowboys in the same position under then-head coach Jason Garrett. Eberflus helped mold Sean Lee into a star and oversaw two banner seasons from former cult hero Rolando McClain in 2014 and '15.
Eberflus was primed to get the Dallas DC job after the 2017 season, but he didn't want to oust former mentor Rod Marinelli and left to become the Colts defensive coordinator. His achievements in Indianapolis include helming three top-10 scoring defenses in four years as well as a top-10 unit in rushing yards allowed and takeaways all four years.
Former Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard was an All-Pro in every season Eberflus was his defensive coordinator and Bobby Okereke blossomed into a rising star next to Leonard in the middle of Indy's defense.
Eberflus' defenses historically don't blitz at a high rate. He likes to rush four and drop seven into coverage to prevent explosive plays. In 2022 and 2023, the Bears ranked 28th in blitz rate under Eberflus, but were second in stunt rate and first in stunt rate against the run, per John Owning of PFF.
All in all, this is a really strong hire by the Cowboys. Eberflus had immense success in his previous stint as a DC and he's maximized the potential of his linebackers at every stop.
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