Late Tuesday afternoon, Jonathan Gannon, the former coach of the Arizona Cardinals, finished up interviews with the Cowboys front office and coach Brian Schottenheimer for the vacant defensive coordinator position at The Star.
On Wednesday, Eagles passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Christian Parker will visit.
After that, the Cowboys have no more in-person interviews scheduled, two people with knowledge of the process told The Dallas Morning News.
The Cowboys have invited three coaches for in-person interviews. Last Saturday, Daronté Jones, the Vikings’ defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator, was the first in-person interview.
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And now, after Gannon and the expected discussion with Parker, it would appear the Cowboys might be done.
However, Jim Leonhard, the Broncos’ defensive passing game/assistant head coach, remains on the team’s radar. Leonhard has conducted a virtual interview with club officials but hasn’t come to Texas for an in-person chat.
Leonhard’s team is in the AFC Championship Game and, based on league rules, if he does any in-person interviews, they must conclude by Saturday.
NFL teams have Tuesdays off during a game week, and if Leonhard were to visit the Cowboys it likely would have been then. Yet, the team interviewed Gannon.
So if Leonhard visits the Cowboys, it might happen late Friday or early Saturday so he could get back to Denver in time for Sunday’s game.
Of course, if the Broncos get eliminated from the postseason, he could interview for the Cowboys’ job if it’s still available.
But at this stage, it’s uncertain if the Cowboys want to wait for Leonhard or have other candidates visit.
Last year, the Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus as their defensive coordinator 24 hours after the news conference to announce the hiring of Schottenheimer.
Of the three candidates brought to The Star, Gannon is the only one with experience in calling defensive plays in the NFL.
In two seasons in Philadelphia, Gannon’s defense improved from 18th in points allowed in 2021 to eighth the next season. In total yards, the Eagles finished 10th in 2021 and moved to third in the league in 2022.
As a head coach, Gannon’s overall mark was 15-36, which included a dreadful 3-15 record in the NFC West.
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