It’s no secret that the big picture view of the Dallas Cowboys for the 2025 season was a simple one–the offense was remarkable and the defense was a dumpster fire. The Cowboys tried changing players, tried overhauling the roster on that side of the ball, but nothing changes in the end so they did the next logical thing. They fired their defensive coordinator, longtime coach and former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
Now begins the hard work of replacing him, and the Cowboys are pretty desperate to get this hire right. The team should return a high-powered offense next season, if everyone stays healthy and the front office follows through with its vow to keep key contributors receiver George Pickens and running back Javonte Williams on board.
The Cowboys on Friday interviewed their first two candidates, Minnesota Vikings pass game coordinator Daronte Jones and Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, in video calls, which is the Cowboys’ preferred method.
Cowboys Could Get a ‘Favorite’ in Jim Leonhard
On Saturday comes the interview with the guy most around the Cowboys seem to be excited about–Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, dubbed the “fan favorite” by the popular Cowboys fan site, Blogging the Boys. Leonhard’s resume is light on NFL experience, but he was a well-respected player–he was both a walk-on at Wisconsin and an undrafted rookie in the NFL–who success as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator and, eventually, their interim head coach.
Leonhard has connections with head coach Brian Schottenheimer, too. Leonhard was a safety for the Jets from 2009-11, when Schottenheimer was the team’s offensive coordinator, Leonhard has been on Sean Payton’s staff in Denver since 2024. He was the assistant head coach, as well as the defensive passing game coordinator this season.
The Broncos’ defense was rated No. 6 overall by Pro Football Focus this season. Denver is the No. 1 seed in the AFC, at 14-3.
Who’s Picking the Cowboys’ Next DC?
Schottenheimer was actually asked about Leonhard during Wednesday’s season wrap-up press conference at The Star. “Jim is a heck of a coach. You talk about a great football player, man,” Schottenheimer said. “Jim is an excellent coach and I think they had a heck of a year.”
Some of the questions around the Cowboys’ next defensive coordinator could boil down to who will have the loudest voice when it comes to filling the role. Reports had it that it was owner Jerry Jones who wanted Eberflus to begin with, and he stated this week that he likes to bring in fired former head coaches looking to redeem themselves. (Jones, however, said that Schottenheimer was on board with the Eberflus selection.)
If it’s Jones’s call, the Cowboys might lean more toward someone like fired Falcons coach Raheem Morris.
Jim Leonhard: ‘Coaching Is Teaching’
But Schottenheimer was plain in stating he wants the next Cowboys defensive coordinator to be someone who can be flexible, can communicate and can be a teacher. Those are considered Leonhard’s strengths.
“Coaching is teaching,” Leonard said. “The best teachers are efficient with their words. I put a lot of thought into making complex concepts as simple as possible. The more players have to think, the slower they play. Make it simple, efficient, and fun so guys can play fast.”
Cowboys to Interview ‘Fan Favorite’ to Replace Eberflus on Saturday