For the fourth time in as many offseasons, the Dallas Cowboys will enter training camp with a new defensive coordinator after kicking Matt Eberflus to the curb. While the Cowboys' brass has worked hard to bring in candidates and narrow their list down, America's Team may not get a fair chance to get one of the guys they covet the most.
The Cowboys just requested an interview with Baltimore Ravens DC and former NFL player Zach Orr; however, according to NFL insider Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Orr is likely to follow his former boss to the Big Apple.
"Details like coaching staff will be discussed more today, but there's an expectation (John) Harbaugh will wish to bring a good amount of his coaches from Baltimore to the Giants," Jones wrote on Thursday.
Cowboys' Zach Orr Dreams Take a Blow with John Harbaugh Joining Giants
The Cowboys haven't hired a defensive coordinator under 40 years old since Dave Wannstedt in 1989, as reported by Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan. So going after the 33-year-old Orr was an almost unprecedented move from their part, especially when everyone knows how owner/general manager Jerry Jones' mind works.
Still, with newly-hired Giants head coach John Harbaugh trying to poach most of his previous coaching staff from the Baltimore Ravens, that may not be possible. Instead, the Cowboys will have to face Orr twice a year in the NFC East, and one can assume they'd like to avoid that, given their interest in hiring him.
That being said, it's not like the former linebacker has done that good a job in his two years as defensive coordinator. The Ravens' defense regressed tremendously since Mike Macdonald left, including last season. That was one of the main reasons behind their struggles and failure to make the playoffs.
Under Orr's guidance in 2025, the Ravens gave up the third-most passing yards per game (247.9) and ranked 18th in points allowed per game (23.4). It was another example of Baltimore's defense getting off to a slow start to the campaign before hitting its stride in the final month or so.
The Cowboys need to find more than just a defensive coordinator; they also need consistency, which is something they've lacked for nearly half a decade now. They can't keep moving on from DCs every single year, and they will have to be extremely careful with whoever they get next.
Besides Orr, the Cowboys are also reportedly keeping tabs on Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Christian Parker, DeMarcus Covington, Charlie Bullen, Jim Leonhard, Jonathan Gannon, Daronte Jones, Aaron Whitecotton, and Ephraim Banda round up the list of potential hires at the time of writing. They will have to act quickly before other teams keep luring their candidates away.