The Dallas Cowboys add to their coaching staff by hiring Scott Symons, SMU’s defensive coordinator, as inside linebackers coach, marking his NFL debut.

DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys just added an assistant coach, and they didn’t have to look very far to fill the role. 

The Cowboys will hire SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons as inside linebackers coach, according to multiple reports. Symons had spent the past four seasons of his career at SMU after being hired as the defensive coordinator in December 2021. Prior to his stint on the Hilltop, he was the defensive coordinator at Liberty for three seasons.

Symons was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given each year to the nation’s top collegiate assistant coach, for the past three college football seasons. 

This will be Symons’ first opportunity coaching in the NFL. He joins a defensive staff that’ll be led by defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who came to Dallas from the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Cowboys are hiring SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons as inside linebackers coach, per source.

A highly respected college DC, Symons had interest from multiple NFL teams this cycle and elected to join Brian Schottenheimer’s revamped defensive staff and stay in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/SPN9BWhiGk

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 13, 2026