The Cowboys have their defensive coordinator, but the dominoes are still falling into place for their 2026 coaching staff.
On Friday night ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that Dallas is expected to interview Vikings defensive assistant Marcus Dixon. With current Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton drawing interest from other teams across the league — most notably from the Titans as their defensive coordinator — it appears Dallas is preparing to find a replacement.
Dixon has served as the Vikings’ defensive line coach for the past two seasons, also working for the Broncos in the same role for two seasons prior. With Minnesota, he helped lead his group to an average of 93.5 rushing yards allowed per game, the second-lowest mark in the league in 2024. Even as the Vikings struggled and missed the playoffs in 2025, it wasn’t because of their defensive line — Dixon’s squad was ranked among the top 10 defensive fronts in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
Dixon spent three seasons in the NFL from 2010-12, but he was originally signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008.
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Whitecotton was an in-house candidate for the coordinator spot in Dallas before the Cowboys hired Christian Parker this week. He was hired by Brian Schottenheimer prior to the start of last season.
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Titans request to interview Cowboys assistant for DC job, report says
The Titans and new coach Robert Saleh have requested to interview Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton.
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