For the fourth time since 2023, the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new defensive coordinator. Notably, this is the third time that the guy who leaves won't be brought back, so it's not like they're thriving and getting head coaching jobs somewhere else.
Parting ways with Matt Eberflus made sense, all things considered, but the team now needs some consistency and continuity there. That's why some thought they would go after a well-established name. Nevertheless, it seems like team owner/GM Jerry Jones wouldn't mind giving a first-timer a chance, and that means they should be all over Al Harris right now.
Jerry Jones' Latest Comments Open The Door For Al Harris As Defensive Coordinator
"Jerry Jones said having head coach experience is not a requirement for the next defensive coordinator and the Cowboys could look at a first time coordinator as well. Cowboys have had a former HC as a DC since 2014," Cowboys insider Todd Archer of ESPN reported on X.
Al Harris has been an assistant coach for 13 years now, and he did an outstanding job in his five-year tenure with the Cowboys. He served as a defensive backs coach first before also taking on assistant head coach duties in his last season with the team (2024).
Under his guidance, Trevon Diggs set a new franchise record with eleven interceptions, and DaRon Bland set a new NFL record for the most pick-sixes in a single season (5). He helped both of them earn All-Pro honors and sign lucrative deals.
Now, with the Chicago Bears, he's also worked his magic with lesser-known defensive backs. He helped safety Kevin Byard lead the league in interceptions (7). Cornerback Nahshon Wright (5) is tied for the second-most picks in the league, and no team in the NFL had more interceptions than the Bears this season (23).
Harris has paid his dues and earned his stripes. His previous role as an assistant coach shows that he can handle some additional responsibilities, and he's already more than familiar with the way things are done in Jerry World.
The Cowboys have a long history of hiring people with ties to the organization. Jones seems to trust them, given his history of success with previous Cowboys players and the fact that he still needs to prove his worth as a defensive coordinator before being a potential head coaching candidate. Harris makes perfect sense for this team. If things go well, he should be there for a couple of years at the very least before another team considers luring him away.