In the wake of the Dallas Cowboys cutting ties with three defensive assistant coaches came news on Monday night that a fourth would be departing, too, though not on Dallas’s account. Aaron Whitecotton, the well-liked defensive line coach who interviewed as a candidate for the defensive coordinator’s job, is leaving, creating another opening on Christian Parker’s new-look defensive staff.
Whitecotton will be going to the Tennessee Titans in the same role with an added responsibility (run-game coordinator), and reuniting with new head coach Robert Saleh in doing so. He had been connected with Saleh going back to 2020, when Saleh was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco and Whitecotton joined the staff as an assistant defensive line coach. Saleh brought Whitecotton to the Jets, where he was the defensive line coach for four years.
The Cowboys brought him to Dallas last season, but it will be his only year at The Star as he departs for Tennessee.
Cowboys’ Aaron Whitecotton Leaving for Titans
It is a blow for the Cowboys, who were posturing as though they were trying to keep Whitecotton on the staff even as the obvious lure of returning to coach with Saleh lingered. Whitecotton was bumped up, too, to run-game coordinator.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the news, writing on Twitter/X: “The #Titans are hiring Aaron Whitecotton as the new Run Game Coordinator/DL coach, a promotion. Whitecotton had multiple DC interviews this cycle and his unit was top 5 in QB hits last season. Robert Saleh secures a big-time coach for their defensive front.”
Cowboys Overhauling Defensive Assistants
That news came after the Cowboys had parted ways with a trio of defensive assistants on Monday.
From the report by Cowboys beat writer Calvin Watkins: “The Cowboys on Monday let three assistants go, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Dallas Morning News on Monday. Defensive passing game coordinator/safeties coach Andre Curtis, secondary/cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi were let go by the organization.”
Parker will be, increasingly, reloading his staff with coaches of his choice, which is not the worst idea for the Cowboys defense. It’s been mentioned plenty of times, but it bears repeating: This unit was dead last in points allowed and 30th in yardage.
GettyQuinnen Williams of the Cowboys
Aaron Whitecotton Has a Fan in Quinnen Williams
One guy who will miss Whitecotton is new Cowboys defensive star Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys sent a second-round pick in 2026 and a first-rounder in 2027, along with Mazi Smith, to the New York Jets for Williams at the November NFL trade deadline, and are counting on him being the anchor of the unit going forward.
Williams was a Jets first-round pick, who said his career took off once he began working with Whitecotton in 2021.ow good a coach he thinks Whitecotton is.
“I think anybody can look at the résumé,” Williams said. “Before I had Whitecotton, I kind of was set out to be a good DT. When Whitecotton came into my life as a coach, I became an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. The techniques that he has taught me, the things that he has done for me in my career when it comes down to coaching and stuff like that, have been unbelievable and kind of transcended my career to this day.”
Alas, he won’t be back in 2026.
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