{"id":785534,"date":"2026-03-02T00:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T00:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/785534\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T00:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T00:42:17","slug":"offseason-outlook-dallas-cowboys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/785534\/","title":{"rendered":"Offseason Outlook: Dallas Cowboys"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cowboys parted with head coach Mike McCarthy a year ago, but they did not venture far for a replacement. Nine days after McCarthy’s contract expired, owner Jerry Jones promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to replace his former boss. Then 51 years old, Schottenheimer’s days as an up-and-coming head coaching candidate had long since passed. What’s more, Schottenheimer didn’t even call the plays during his two-year run as McCarthy’s offensive coordinator. McCarthy’s exit nonetheless set the stage for Schottenheimer to handle both responsibilities last season.<\/p>\n

To Schottenheimer’s credit, his offense did not disappoint. Quarterback Dak Prescott<\/a> bounced back from a rough, injury-wrecked 2024 to shine in his age-32 season. The Cowboys struck gold on offseason acquisitions George Pickens<\/a> and Javonte Williams<\/a>, who emerged as essential weapons for Prescott. With holdovers CeeDee Lamb<\/a> and Jake Ferguson<\/a> continuing to produce, the Cowboys stormed to the second-most yards and seventh-highest point total in the NFL.<\/p>\n

As prolific as the Cowboys’ offense was, it could not overcome one of the worst defenses in franchise history. Weighed down by a unit that surrendered the most points in the league, the Cowboys sputtered to their second straight seven-win showing. It was not a shocking outcome after Jones traded<\/a> all-world outside linebacker Micah Parsons<\/a> to Green Bay a week before his team’s season opener. The loss of Parsons predictably dealt a devastating shot to Dallas’ defense, but its issues went deeper than that. With several upgrades to make and a new D-coordinator in charge, the unit will undergo a much-needed facelift in the next couple of months.<\/p>\n

Coaching\/front office:<\/p>\n

Fired<\/a> defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus
\nHired<\/a> Christian Parker as DC replacement
\nHired<\/a> Derrick Ansley as defensive pass-game coordinator\/DBs coach, replacing Andre Curtis
\nHired<\/a> Ryan Smith as secondary coach
\nHired<\/a> Chidera Uzo-Diribe as outside linebackers coach
\nHired<\/a> Scott Symons as inside linebackers coach
\nHired<\/a> Marcus Dixon as defensive line coach, replacing<\/a> Aaron Whitecotton<\/p>\n

Keeping up a yearslong tradition, the Cowboys tabbed an ex-head coach as their defensive coordinator last winter. Rod Marinelli, Mike Nolan, Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer had each held the role at times from 2014-24. Nolan and Zimmer were only around for a year apiece. Eberflus, the Bears’ head coach from 2022-24, joined the one-and-done club in Dallas last season.<\/p>\n


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