Cowboys Defensive Coach Decides to Leave After Eberflus Hiring

The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff continues to take shape under Brian Schottenheimer after his surprising hiring on Jan. 27. The process has had plenty of drama including a former Cowboys legend that was turned down to a pair of polarizing hires but one decision has had a residual effect.

Schottenheimer tabbed Matt Eberflus as his defensive coordinator last week. In these cases, a coach will attempt to get his own people instead of carrying over with the previous staff, though there was one name that the former head coach of the Chicago Bears attempted to retain, but failed to actually land.

Cowboys Assistant Cristian Garcia Takes New Job With Arizona Cardinals

According to ESPN.com’s Toddy Archer, Cowboys assistant Cristian Garcia has been hired by the Arizona Cardinals as their new inside linebackers coach. The Cowboys had hoped to keep Garcia on staff after he was an assistant defensive backs coach last season but he believed the opportunity was better on Jonathan Gannon’s staff moving forward.

Garcia arrived to the Cowboys before the start of last season as former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer formed his staff. Garcia spent the first three seasons of his coaching career with the Washington Commanders as a defensive assistant and a quality control coach, but had previous experience working with Jeff Zgonina, who was hired by Zimmer as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach last spring.

A Florida alum, Garcia closed out his final season with the Commanders as the team’s interim defensive backs coach and spent last season in Dallas working with defensive backs coach Al Harris, who was relieved of his duties on Jan. 24. The Cowboys passing defense struggled as a whole, allowing the fifth-highest yards per attempt at 6.6 yards last season but Garcia made a positive impression as Eberflus and Schottenheimer attempted to retain him on their staff.

The chance to have a lead position title could have been part of the reason Garcia opted to head to Arizona. It may have also been more appealing to work with linebacker Kyzir White, who racked up 137 total tackles including 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in his second season with the Cardinals.

Whatever the reason, Garcia will have a chance for a new opportunity in the desert while Schottenheimer and Eberflus will have another hole to fill on their defensive staff.

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