R1 With Matt Eberflus now out of the picture, Aaron Whitecotton is silently emerging as a prime in-house candidate for the Chicago Bears.

Cowboys Linked to Rising Name for Defensive Coordinator Role

As uncertainty looms over the Cowboys defensive future, Aaron Whitecottons quiet rise puts him in prime position for a potential promotion.

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As the Dallas Cowboys brace for what could be another offseason of change on the defensive side of the ball, one name quietly gaining traction inside the building is defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. While the spotlight often shines on big-name candidates like Brian Flores or Al Harris when defensive coordinator vacancies open up, Whitecotton is emerging as a legitimate in-house option-one the Cowboys may already be evaluating more closely than most realize.

Whitecotton joined the Cowboys this season, but he’s hardly a newcomer to NFL coaching circles. He’s been working with defensive lines since 2013, and he’s been the lead DL coach since 2021. His résumé includes stops with the Jaguars, 49ers, Jets, and now Dallas-each stop adding another layer to his reputation as a technician with a knack for developing interior linemen.

His coaching roots trace back to Jacksonville under Gus Bradley, during the early days of the post-Legion of Boom coaching tree. That’s where he first linked up with Robert Saleh, then the Jaguars’ linebackers coach.

The two would reconnect in San Francisco and again with the Jets, where Whitecotton helped mold Quinnen Williams into one of the league’s premier interior disruptors. That relationship with Williams, who now anchors the Cowboys’ defensive front, could be a key factor in Whitecotton’s staying power in Dallas-whether as a coordinator candidate or in an expanded role.

What makes Whitecotton’s candidacy interesting is that he’s not tied to current defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. There’s no prior working relationship there, no shared coaching tree, and no obvious connection to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer either, despite overlapping stints in Jacksonville (though not at the same time). His hiring appears to have been based on merit-specifically, his track record in New York and San Francisco working with high-end talent in the trenches.

And that track record matters. In New York, Whitecotton helped shape a Jets defensive line that became one of the most consistent units in the AFC.

Before that, he worked with players like Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw in San Francisco. His ability to elevate individual talent and contribute to cohesive front-line play has followed him from stop to stop.

Now in Dallas, Whitecotton might be getting a trial run of sorts. In Week 16 against the Chargers, Eberflus moved from the sideline to the booth, and Whitecotton took on a more prominent role on the field.

While the Cowboys were already out of playoff contention, and the game didn’t carry much weight in the standings, it did offer a look at how Whitecotton handles leadership responsibilities on gameday. That’s not nothing-especially in an organization known for grooming in-house talent for bigger roles.

Even if the Cowboys ultimately opt for a splashy outside hire to lead the defense in 2026, Whitecotton could still be in line for a promotion of a different kind. A title like Defensive Run Game Coordinator could be a natural next step, giving him more say in scheme design and game planning while continuing to work closely with a defensive front that includes one of his former star pupils.

And let’s be honest-this wouldn’t be the first time the Cowboys front office pushed to keep a coach they liked, regardless of who was calling the shots. They did it with Jason Garrett under Wade Phillips, and again with Kellen Moore under Mike McCarthy. If the Jones family or Schottenheimer sees something in Whitecotton, they won’t hesitate to keep him around-even if the new defensive coordinator has different ideas.

Of course, none of this guarantees Whitecotton will be promoted. The Cowboys’ 2025 defense was, to put it kindly, a mess.

That kind of performance often leads to sweeping changes, and Whitecotton could easily be swept out along with the rest of the staff. But if there’s one internal candidate who’s earned a longer look, it’s him.

Whether he ends up running the whole defense or simply remains a key voice in the room, Aaron Whitecotton is a name to keep an eye on as the Cowboys chart their course for 2026 and beyond. He’s already proven he can coach at a high level. Now we’ll see if Dallas gives him the platform to do it with a bigger title.