FRISCO, Texas — Matt Eberflus and the ݮƵ have parted ways. It was a decision made by owner and general manager Jerry Jones following the loss to the New York Giants in the season finale, the organization having mulled for weeks following one of the worst statistical showings by the defensive unit in franchise history.
Another disappointing season ended with the Cowboys unable to earn a playoff berth, and in large part due to their defensive woes that helped torpedo the season, leading to a second consecutive losing campaign for Dallas, a defense that allowed more than 500 points in a season for the first time in the history of the franchise.
Eberflus owned up to the failings entering the finale.
"I mean, I'm the defensive coordinator," Eberflus said entering the Week 18 finale against the New York Giants. " ... The accountability is with me."
This will mark a fourth time in as many seasons that the Cowboys will assign someone new to the role of defensive coordinator in Dallas. And though Jones laments the lack of continuity in the role, it's clear he felt the full body of work from the 2025 season outweighed that virtue.
He also hinted at the possibility of other changes within the defensive coaching staff behind Eberflus.
"I might not couch it as difficult," he said of the possibility of making another change at defensive coordinator. "It's certainly something that we have to do. And that is to look at the entire year and look at what our options are, and how to correct it so we're not here at the same time next year. Now, that's not uncommon to evaluate at this time of the year — your entire coaching staff.
"And, obviously, the target is on him because of our statistical, as well as actual play on the defensive side of the ball, but that goes with it."
Things have been significantly different in the post-Dan Quinn era, something Jones isn't afraid to admit.
"We were porous when we got in the playoffs, and we were porous when we had to buckle up and stop the run, but Dan did a great job," he said. "We really wanted to keep Dan."
That is not an option though, and the search for another long-term solution at defensive coordinator continues in 2026 in Dallas.
