Cowboys Fans Are Buzzing About One Name — And It Could Fix Dallas’ Biggest WeaknessAfter years of defensive frustration, a proven mastermind is suddenly in the conversation..1805
It’s Jerry Jones’ lucky day.
Dallas Cowboys v Denver Broncos | Jamie Schwaberow/GettyImages
Dallas Cowboys fans can only hope that Matt Eberflus coached his last game as the team’s defensive coordinator on Sunday. The Cowboys’ defense surrendered 34 points against the lowly New York Giants, meaning they are now responsible for New York’s two-highest point totals of the season.
Firing Eberflus is one thing, but it won’t mean much if Jerry Jones doesn’t hire the right replacement. While it won’t be hard to find an upgrade, as Eberflus was one of the worst DCs in the league this year, it’s important that Jones casts a wide net and steps outside of his comfort zone. Trusting Brian Schottenheimer will be a crucial part of the process.
Well, if the start of Black Monday is any indicator, the Cowboys won’t have any shortage of candidates. The Cleveland Browns have fired head coach Kevin Stefanski, leaving the future of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz very much up in the air.
Cowboys should hire Browns DC Jim Schwartz to replace Matt Eberflus
It helps to have an alien like Myles Garrett rushing the quarterback, but the Browns’ defense overachieved under Schwartz this season.
Despite being handicapped by one of the worst offenses in the NFL, Cleveland ranked fifth in EPA per play, fourth in success rate, fourth in EPA per pass, and eighth in EPA per rush, per Sumer Sports. Again, the Browns’ personnel is miles better than the Cowboys’, but Schwartz is one of the more respected defensive minds the league has to offer.
The Browns finished in the top five in yards allowed in two of Schwartz’s three seasons as defensive coordinator. Dating back to his last season as the Eagles’ DC in 2020, Schwartz’s defenses have ranked top-15 in passing yards allowed in his last four years as a defensive play-caller.
Known for scheming defensive linemen to attack the quarterback, the Bills led the league with 54 sacks under Schwartz’s watchful eye in 2014.
What really separates Schwartz from Eberflus is his ability to develop players. Browns linebacker Devin Bush, a former first-round pick, was considered a bust before he got to Cleveland. He turned in a Pro Bowl-caliber season under Stefanski in 2025.
While Schwartz has never coached in Dallas, there should be plenty of familiarity from his five years with the Eagles. Assuming he becomes collateral damage of Stefanski being shown the door, the Cowboys would be wise to do their homework on the 59-year-old.
Dallas closed out the 2025 NFL season with a poor defeat to the New York Giants
Dak PrescottFrank Franklin IIAP/LAPRESSE
The Dallas Cowboys closed the 2025 NFL season exactly as it had unfolded for months, with frustration, mistakes, and unmet expectations, as a Week 18 loss to the New York Giants sealed a campaign that never really got going.
Because Dallas entered the finale already long eliminated from playoff contention, pride was the only remaining incentive, yet the afternoon quickly unraveled, reinforcing how penalties, turnovers, and emotional lapses consistently outweighed execution.
Dak Prescott looks defeated after another disappointing season
But as the Giants built a two-score lead in the second half, the familiar issues resurfaced, and the game began to mirror the Cowboys‘ broader struggles, where self-inflicted damage routinely erased opportunities to regain momentum.
New York‘s quarterback, Jaxson Dart, found Tyron Tracy Jr. for a 13-yard touchdown, and immediately after, tensions boiled over, leading to a midfield scrum that ended with the Cowboys defender’ Donovan Ezeiruaku being ejected.
That sequence, marked by Ezeiruaku removing a Giants player’s helmet, symbolized a season plagued by poor discipline, as emotional reactions repeatedly replaced composure during critical moments.
Consequently, Dallas‘ inability to manage pressure became its defining trait, making even competitive stretches feel fragile and short-lived throughout a year that began with legitimate postseason hopes.
And following the loss, Dak Prescott addressed reporters and, rather than deflecting or reframing the outcome, delivered an unfiltered assessment that instantly resonated because of its blunt honesty.
“Oh s**t,” Prescott said. “That’s a good sound clip for the season.”
The comment, while brief, cut through the noise, because it reflected both locker-room frustration even if, statistically, Prescott‘s season told a very different story, as he surpassed 4,000 passing yards for the fourth time, finishing with 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Moreover, he entered the finale leading the NFL in passing yards, completions, and attempts, demonstrating how individual production once again failed to translate into meaningful team success as the defense continued to struggle.
As a result, Dallas now faces another offseason defined by strong numbers but empty results, extending a pattern that has kept the franchise stuck short of contention.
Jerry Jones risks Mic
