Many within Cowboys Nation have been compiling a list of candidates for the team’s defensive coordinator position, which as of this writing is still held by Matt Eberfus.
But the team’s disappointing 7-9-1 record and horrific defense have fans and observers alike searching for the key to turning things around in 2026.
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A few hours after the regular season ended, some new names have entered the chat room.
The Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday night, and the Cleveland Browns followed suit by firing head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday morning.
Morris, 49, is a long-time defender who won a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay during the 2002 season (as defensive quality control coach) and the Rams in 2021 (as defensive coordinator). Morris, who has been on NFL sidelines for the past 23 years, has four years of experience in Washington, D.C., several years as an assistant head coach in Atlanta and two spells as head coach. Morris worked under Dan Quinn and replaced him after the Falcons fired him during the 2020 season.
Stefanski comes from an offensive background, but his ouster in Cleveland could mean current Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will soon enter the job market. Schwartz, 59, has also served as a head coach in the NFL and won a Super Bowl title as the Eagles’ DC during the 2017 season. He has a track record of making an immediate impact on defenses, producing dramatic turnarounds in his first year in Buffalo, Philadelphia and Cleveland. He was named the 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year in his first season with the Browns.
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Both Morris and Schwartz could be top candidates for any defensive coordinator opening this offseason.
Not that the Cowboys have one of those. However.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wired: Could Cowboys consider Falcons and Browns defensive coordinator options?