The Dallas Cowboys' experiment with Matt Eberflus lasted all of one season before the powers that be came to the conclusion that there was no need to see if things would change in Year 2 in his system.
Given how effective the offense was throughout the 2025 campaign, even a halfway decent defense would have put Dallas in a better position to qualify for the postseason. Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition. Now, the franchise is on the hunt for a replacement.
While the Cowboys have cast a wide net, one of their first candidates to interview for the position may have just become much more difficult to hire in Arlington, Texas.
Packers Likely to Make Strong Push for Jim Leonhard After Hafley News
Saturday afternoon, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had emerged as the frontrunner for the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins. Shortly thereafter, WFAA Cowboys insider Ed Werder noted that Jim Leonhard of the Denver Broncos could be a name that Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur attempt to move quickly on.
The 43-year-old currently serves as the Broncos' defensive pass game coordinator and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2025. Before making the jump to the NFL, Leonhard served as defensive coordinator and interim head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.
The coaching candidate also enjoyed a fine playing career of his own, making him all the more attractive to Dallas and the rest of the league's teams attempting to fill vacancies on their respective defensive coaching staffs. This is part of the reason why the Cowboys held a virtual interview with Leonhard early in the process.
Unfortunately, Denver's success as a team has only slowed down Dallas' efforts to secure a deal with Leonhard. League rules dictate that the Cowboys are not permitted to hold an in-person interview with Leonhard until the Broncos are eliminated from playoff contention or are on a bye week. This puts Dallas in a holding pattern, allowing other franchises, such as the Packers, the opportunity to make up ground with a candidate the Cowboys had clearly identified early in the process.
With Hafley seemingly out the door in Green Bay, the Packers will likely put a heavy blitz on Leonhard in hopes of bringing him on as the team's next defensive coordinator. Given Leonhard is a Wisconsin native, and LaFleur had previously offered him this role in 2021, as noted by Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Green Bay could make him a priority in their search again this time around.
All of this adds to the pressure facing Brian Schottenheimer, Jerry Jones, and the rest of Dallas' braintrust. Whether it is Leonhard or not, they cannot afford to make the wrong hire for this role on the defense yet again, as expectations will be high once the 2026 campaign rolls around.