The Dallas Cowboys' playoff chances are slim to none now after falling to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. Time and time again, when America’s Team gives its fans any glimmer of hope, the Cowboys seem to find new ways to disappoint.
Every year, there’s a different reason. This season, it is fair to say the historically bad defense should shoulder most of the blame, though.
Whenever a defense is this bad, fingers quickly point directly at the coordinator. No matter how poor the personnel may be, coaching is what gets scrutinized the most, and for defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, that has been exactly the case.
The Cowboys could be looking at hiring a fourth different defensive coordinator in as many years this offseason. With Eberflus coming under fire as much as he has this season, the franchise should look to these three names to lead its defense.
1. Brian Flores
Fresh off facing him in Week 15, there is little reason for the Vikings' defensive coordinator not to be at the top of the names that owner and general manager Jerry Jones should pursue. Flores has earned his stripes in the league as one of the best defensive minds in the game.
The Bill Belichick protégée is a four-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, having worked various roles on the defensive side of the ball. Flores has been lauded for his unique defensive schemes throughout his NFL tenure.
Despite Flores’s past controversy with the league office, he is likely to be an attractive name during the hiring cycle. He might be in line for a head coaching position, but that shouldn’t deter the Cowboys from pursuing him.
2. Matt Patricia
Ohio State University has boasted the best defense in college football throughout the entire year. With NFL-level talent across all three levels on that side of the ball for the Buckeyes, Matt Patricia has brought his pro coaching experience to Columbus and made things quite unfair.
Also a Belichick disciple, Patricia has an extensive history of coaching defense. Patricia is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, two of which he was the unit’s playcaller. If the Cowboys choose to go with someone with experience, Patricia, along with Flores, should be at the top of the list of candidates.
3. Al Harris
If the franchise wants to go with a familiar face, the Cowboys should give Al Harris a hard look. The former Cowboys defensive backs coach and current defensive passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears is a fan favorite wherever he goes.
With Harris leading the secondary unit in Dallas, the Cowboys saw major success, particularly in creating takeaways. Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland both had career years under him. Diggs led the league in interceptions in 2021, while Bland broke the NFL record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns in 2023.
This isn’t luck. Harris has proven to be a great coach. Nahshon Wright, Bears cornerback and also a former Cowboy, is the latest testament to Harris's coaching abilities. Wright is tied for second in the league in interceptions with 5 and is coming off winning the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month award for November. At this point, Harris has a track record of developing "guys" into great players, and it speaks volumes to his abilities as a coach.
Regardless of which direction the Cowboys look, the fans have made it clear that Eberflus’ time should be numbered. Dallas needs to make the right decision not only for the short term, but more so for the long term, before it fully turns its attention to the draft and free agency.