Cowboys make final Matt Eberflus decision after Jerry Jones comments

In late December, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones insisted that defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was not the only person to blame for the struggles the Dallas defense endured throughout the 2025 season. 

However, it's now clear that Jones didn't view Eberflus as somebody who could help the club's defense turn things around in 2026.

Cowboys make expected Matt Eberflus decision

As Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' website shared, the club officially parted ways with Eberflus on Tuesday. The news had been expected for some time, as Jones hinted in December that Brian Schottenheimer would have to make some changes to his staff after the Cowboys missed the playoffs in Schottenheimer's first season serving as the club's head coach. 

ESPN stats show that the Cowboys ended Week 18 ranked last in the NFL with an average of 30.1 points surrendered per game and 30th with an average of 377.0 yards surrendered per contest. Meanwhile, Dallas finished the campaign with a disappointing record of 7-9-1. 

Was Matt Eberflus doomed from the start? 

Ahead of the Cowboys' regular-season finale at the New York Giants on Jan. 4, Eberflus accepted "ownership and accountability" for the play of the Dallas defense throughout the season. However, he also suggested that his job was made more difficult after Jones traded star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in late August. 

While Jones declined to lock Parsons down via a long-term agreement, the Packers signed the 26-year-old to a four-year, $188M contract that included $136M guaranteed. 

Jones later helped Eberflus out by acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. The Cowboys notched three straight wins following those deals, but Dallas then suffered three consecutive defeats before Christmas. 

The Cowboys will now have a fourth defensive coordinator in as many years. That said, there's no indication Schottenheimer is in danger of losing his job this winter. Getting the DC decision right will be Schottenheimer's first task during an offseason that began for the Cowboys earlier than Jones expected back when the campaign got underway in September.