NFL Trade Rumors: Dallas Cowboys Nearing Deal to Make Matt Eberflus Defensive Coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys are reuniting with a former coach. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys "are closing in on a deal" with former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus to be their new defensive coordinator.

The #Cowboys are closing in on a deal for former #Bears HC Matt Eberflus to be their new defensive coordinator, sources say.

The favorite all along, Eberflus joins Brian Schottenheimer’s staff and returns to Dallas — where he was LBs coach from 2011-2017. pic.twitter.com/Chfd1nEQ2L
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 28, 2025

Eberflus served as the Cowboys' linebackers coach from 2011 to 2017 before rising to prominence as the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2021. His success there earned him his first head coaching opportunity with the Bears, where he compiled a 14-32 record before being fired 12 games into the 2024 season.

The Cowboys have an opening at defensive coordinator after a particularly disastrous year under former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. After finishing in the top 10 for points allowed for three straight years from 2021 to 2023, the Cowboys plummeted to 31st in 2024 in Zimmer's first and only year with the team. Part of that was due to poor injury luck (Pro Bowlers Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Trevon Diggs all missed extensive time), but ultimately, the Cowboys decided Zimmer was a poor fit and elected to move on.

Eberflus's tenure in Chicago was largely disastrous, and he isn't nearly as accomplished a defensive coach as Zimmer, but he's significantly younger (54 to Zimmer's 68), and his relatively recent history with the Cowboys organization should allow him to hit the ground running. The Cowboys have already shown they can play competent defense; Eberflus only needs to help restore them to where they were a couple of years ago.