Making a case for & against each Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator candidate – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The good and the bad with each defensive coordinator replacement Dallas has interviewed.
Jim Leonhard, Broncos pass game coordinator
Interviewed: Jan. 10
For: If you go back and listen to what Schottenheimer said he was looking for in the season-end press conference, Leonhard checks a lot of boxes. Need takeaways? Check. Need a teacher? Check. Need energy? Check. Leonhard brings fascinating experience from his time as a player and coach to the table, including his six stellar seasons as defensive coordinator
at the University of Wisconsin (four top-five FBS defenses) and his last two seasons with the Broncos (17th and seventh in pass defense). His disguised coverage and simulated pressure scheme would bring a layer of complication for opposing offenses that Dallas hasn’t brought defensively in some time.
Against: Hiring a play-caller with just two seasons at the NFL level is a major risk. Yes, Leonhard’s experience at the college level was about as a high of a grade as it could be, but the ability to show adaptability over time at the NFL level is a different animal. When opposing offensive coordinators get that first six-game sample-size from his scheme and concepts, they will adjust and attack. Is there evidence that he can react to that accordingly?
Zach Orr, former Ravens defensive coordinator
Interviewed: Jan. 13
For: A specialist in run game plans, Orr’s first year as a coordinator with the Ravens in 2024 saw Baltimore allow the fewest rushing yards of any team in the league by a 217-yard margin. If Orr has a quality pass game coordinator to be his running mate as the defensive coordinator, he could end up being a splendid hire with his run-fit teaching and front-seven production. Not to mention, he’s a local product (DeSoto High School and North Texas), and he has experience coaching with Schottenheimer in Jacksonville in 2021.
Against: His pass defenses haven’t quite lived up to his run game standards (31st and 30th in pass yards allowed in 2024 and 2025, respectively). The success of an Orr hire would be largely dependent on who would be coaching his secondary, meaning that Jerry Jones would have to be convinced to fork up defensive coordinator money for two separate hires. And if he doesn’t, then a lot of pressure would be put on an unproven pass game specialist.
Despite surrounding criticism, no team has faith in its QB like Cowboys with Dak Prescott – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
After a decade of ups and downs, Dallas is all in on Dak Prescott.
Faith in their quarterback
Prescott’s health has been a story every other year. He didn’t miss a game his first four seasons, but he fractured an ankle in 2020. In 2022, there was a thumb injury. In 2024, a hamstring injury.
Prescott has pushed back that he’s injury-prone.
And now going into 2026, he has no health issues to worry about. The only concern is getting the Cowboys back to the postseason. For the second time in his career, the Cowboys have missed the postseason in consecutive years.
He wants that to change.
“Ultimately, just a 7-9-1 record. It sucks, but it’s the reality,” he said. “A lot of good in the season. But it’s not the destination, not the end goal, not where we wanted to be. But thankful for the experience. Thankful for the men in the locker room who gave their all. Coaches each and every week.”
He’s not alone.
“First of all, I’m talking to the fan,” Jones said. “I have lived a life of having people say, ‘Jerry, I want more.’ I expect that. Jerry wants more. If you’re talking in third person, but I know we want more. I want more and my point to you is I think whether you or others would disagree, our best way to get more, our best way to get more is to do what we’re going to be doing over the next few days.”
That starts with finding a new defensive coordinator and overhauling a defense that finished 30th in 2025. Re-signing Pickens, running back Javonte Williams and edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney would also help. Getting impactful players with their two first-round draft picks can only add to it.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey ‘likely’ to receive second-round tender – RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys
The negotiations between the Cowboys and Brandon Aubrey will be interesting.
The fact that the tender option is available to the Cowboys means that it is very unlikely that he is kicking elsewhere in 2026. If the Cowboys want him, they are likely going to retain him. And if it isn’t obvious, anyone would want him.
Unfortunately long-term contract negotiations aren’t exactly this team’s specialty. This is with regards to doing them efficiently and quietly.
Perhaps the team will turn a new leaf, but it stands to reason that they will go the tender route at the very beginning. Recall that initial reports around KaVontae Turpin were that they were going to tender him until they got a long-term deal in place.
Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News noted in an X post that an AAV for Brandon Aubrey could fall around $7.5M. That is certainly a lot for a kicker, but not a lot relative to the rest of the roster.
Annual offseason drama has already begun for Cowboys, Jerry Jones – Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire
The offseason work begins.
George Pickens’ contract
New year, same story. The Cowboys have a high-profile player who’s in line to get a rich new contract. Which means Jones and the front office are bound to drag their feet in negotiations all offseason, just like they’ve done with numerous stars before.
Last year it didn’t work out well with pass rusher Micah Parsons, who got into a public war of words with Jones over a lucrative extension. That beef was over Jones directly discussing a deal with Parsons instead of his agent, something the owner hasn’t shied away from doing in his past.
The irony is that Pickens is represented by the same agent, David Mulugheta, so more fireworks could be on the way. The team does have the franchise tag at their disposal and will use it, if necessary, but the hope is a deal can be worked out.
Extending Pickens is priority number one for the Cowboys, so it could be a long, drawn out process to get him a new contract.
New deals for Javonte Williams and Brandon Aubrey
Not far behind Pickens, are possible new deals for the Cowboys’ leading rusher and their All-Pro kicker. Finally healthy, Williams had a breakout season in Dallas, and he’ll be just 26 years old heading into the 2026 campaign. That’s still in the prime for a running back and while there’s mutual interest in re-signing Williams, nothing’s a given with the Cowboys.
The same can be said for Aubrey, a restriced free agent, who has been a revelation since becoming the Cowboys’ kicker. A deal for Aubrey is likely to come and should be easy since it’s not a massive deal, but these things don’t always go smoothly with this front office.
Noteworthy NFL playoff rule could impact Cowboys’ defensive coordinator search – Dustin Lewis, Cowboys On SI
The next few weeks of playoff action could determine quite a bit for the Cowboys in their search for a new defensive coordinator.
The Dallas Cowboys are exploring their options as the franchise tries to find the right voice to fill a crucial position.
Following the regular-season, the Cowboys elected to fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after sitting at the bottom of the NFL in most metrics.
Moving forward, Dallas hasn’t wasted much time embarking on a search for Eberflus’s replacement.
Through the middle part of January, the franchise has virtually interviewed at least nine candidates, including well-known names such as Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Denver Broncos assistant head coach/defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, and former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Of the nine, Leonhard is the lone coach still participating in the NFL Playoffs, as the Broncos will face the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round on Saturday, January 17.
Though in-person interviews can technically begin on Monday, an NFL rule will prevent the Cowboys from officially meeting with Leonhard until the Broncos are eliminated.
