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Ex-Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon in action against the Dallas Cowboys
Over the weekend, the Dallas Cowboys held their initial round of interviews for the open defensive coordinator position, as the team seeks to replace the fired Matt Eberflus and find what will be their fourth DC in as many years. The initial candidates were more below-the radar types, with Broncos assistant coach Jim Leonhard talking with the team on Saturday, while Minnesota pass game coordinator Daronte Jones and Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda were interviewed Friday.
The Cowboys have also considered an internal hire of defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. And now two more candidates are entering the fray, as the Cowboys have two more interviews lined up–with former Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, who was fired last week, as well as fired Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Gannon, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, will interview with the Cowboys on Tuesday and will also be interviewing for head coaching jobs around the league.
Wrote Rapoport: “Former #AZCardinals coach Jonathan Gannon had a busy week ahead. Sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo that his interview schedule is as follows: — #Cowboys for DC tomorrow. — #Commanders for DC Thursday. — #Titans for HC Sunday.”
Cowboys Big Question: Jerry Jones or Schottenheimer Picking DC?
Gannon would be a choice that is more typical of how the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones like to operate. Jones was clear during the team’s season-ending press conference last week that he prefers coaches who are looking for “redemption” in coordinator roles, and, indeed, the team’s recent choices reflect that.
Eberflus had been drummed out of Chicago after a disastrous 2024 season before the Cowboys brought him into the defensive coordinator’s role. His predecessor, Mike Zimmer, was a flop in Dallas after he’d been fired as the head coach of the Vikings in 2021. Before that, Dan Quinn had been hired in 2021 after being fired by the Falcons.
And that plays into part of the palace intrigue around the choice of defensive coordinator–and whether it will be Jones or head coach Brian Schottenheimer who makes the call. Though Jones claimed that Schottenheimer was on board with the Eberflus hire last year, the two clashed in style and reports suggest that Schottenheimer will get his say on who fills the role this year.
GettyCowboys owner Jerry Jones
Zach Orr Getting Defensive Coordinator Interview, in Addition to Jonathan Gannon
The addition of Orr to the interview mix is probably a result of some Schottenheimer influence. Orr and Schottenheimer were briefly on Urban Meyer’s staff together during one disastrous season with the Jaguars, in 2021, and the two became friends. Adding Orr would be a boon for Schottenheimer.
Orr led the Ravens to the top-rated defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed in 2024, but the team’s defense was riddled with injuries and free agent losses and slipped to No. 22 in 2025.
And, as the Cowboys proceed with their interview slate (the first round is all by video), ESPN’s Todd Archer pointed out that the team could still revisit an interview with Jeff Ulrbich of the Falcons, after their original request to interview him was denied by Atlanta’s front office.
Wrote Archer on Twitter/X: “A reminder Atlanta denied Cowboys’ request to speak with DC Jeff Ulbrich but that could be re-visited. Cowboys’ first round of interviews are via Zoom. In-person interviews will be for those in Round 2, whenever they get to that point.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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