Jan. 26, 2026, 9:20 p.m. CT
The Dallas Cowboys made it clear they were going in a different direction with their defense. Soon after the end of the regular season, the club parted ways with embattled defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. The team then entered a unique search in terms of recent team history, actually conducting a search for their next defensive leader.
This search was wholly under the guidance of the head coach Brian Schottenheimer, as opposed to the whims of owner and general manger Jerry Jones. Instead of a retread, former head coach, they landed on Christian Parker, a 34-year old up and comer. And with that, the club gave their entire staff of defensive assistants the chance to interview for their current jobs or seek employment elsewhere.
One such assistant was defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who came over from working with the New York Jets, where he coached Quinnen Williams for three seasons. Williams, acquired by Dallas in a midseason trade, had lost some of his luster in New York, but quickly morphed back into a Pro Bowl caliber player when reunited with Whitecotton.
Well, that reunion is over, because Whitecotton is reuniting with the man who hired him in New York. Robert Saleh was fired in 2025, but spent the season as the DC in San Francisco and was hired to be the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans. He’s bringing Whitecotton back into his fold as the defensive line coach.
Whitecotton had interviewed for the defensive coordinator role in Dallas that eventually was awarded to Parker. It was clear to many at that point that he’d move on if given a chance. The Cowboys have interviewed Marcus DIxon, the current Minnesota Vikings DL coach who is reportedly out of contract, for the DL coach position.
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