Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones didn't spare any expense at the trade deadline, landing several difference-makers in the trenches, like linebacker Logan Wilson and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, to fix the defensive woes the team has had in 2025. The Cowboys have gone just 3-3 since, getting eliminated from playoff contention when the Philadelphia Eagles won last Saturday, and only further proving their mediocrity since.
Dallas has given up 28.6 points per game in seven outings since the trade deadline. Although that's an improvement over the 30.8 PPG they allowed in the nine games before that, that's hardly an acceptable number. No matter the personnel, the Cowboys have been bleeding points and big plays all season, regardless of the caliber of opponent.
The common denominator has been defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. And finally, some accountability could be coming after a disastrous start, and perhaps finale, to his career in the Metroplex.
Jones admitted on Friday that he was unhappy with Eberflus' performance, also dropping a cryptic message that could be taken as a sign that changes are going to be made imminently.
“No. No. Not at all," Jones said when asked if he’s pleased scheme-wise and with the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. "We have a lot of work to do over there. But we can do it.”
Jones was a little bit easier on Eberflus following a 30-23 Christmas Day win over the Washington Commanders than he was on Tuesday, when he dropped a stronger hint that Eberflus' performance is not up to snuff.
"We are not executing. We are not getting done what we even run as a scheme. That’s very critical. It’s a combination of many things when you can’t get pressure or stop the run," Jones said.
Jerry Jones Needs to Pull the Plug on Matt Eberflus ASAP
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer's recent banishment of Eberflus from the sidelines to the box signals disapproval of the defensive coordinator from at least one key figurehead in the Cowboys organization.
If Schottenheimer can achieve more sway within the organization, perhaps it can lead to Eberflus' exodus from the DFW. Jones promoted him from offensive coordinator, where he was holding it down, engineering historic efforts from quarterback Dak Prescott, so it's safe to say if he's unhappy with a certain staff member, something might be done about it.
It also helps that Jones is openly unhappy with how Eberflus has utilized Logan Wilson since he was acquired from the Cincinnati Bengals. After Wilson failed to see any snaps in Thursday's win, the eccentric billionaire told reporters that he didn't "have an explanation for you for why Wilson wasn’t in there," emphasizing that the veteran LB "needs to be in there."
Reading between the lines, it's easy to deduce that Jones isn't thrilled with how Eberflus has used the recent trade pick-up. And if the Cowboys' owner is worried that the same fate could await any offseason additions, that's only another reason to hand Eberflus his pink slip soon.
Dallas will never be where head coaches go to run the show, but if the current headman can at least have a successful recommendation, perhaps Schottenheimer can have sway on Eberflus' potential DC replacement. If not, and the underachieving DC returns for the 2026 season, it's safe to say that the Cowboys' defensive headaches will only worsen moving forward.