FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys recently landed on offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the guy being promoted to head coach.
And on Tuesday here inside The Star, Schottenheimer and the Joneses have completed the hiring Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator.
Eberflus’ time in Chicago ended after a clock management gaffe wasted an opportunity to beat the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the last of a series of breakdowns that spoiled a once-promising Bears season.
But “Flus” is now back in Dallas to make defensive play calls and turn a handful of dynamic talents into a cohesive unit. On that front, there’s reason to believe Eberflus will find success in Dallas.
Before Chicago, he was the defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018–2021. There, his defenses ranked ninth, 17th, ninth, and 13th, respectively, in expected points added per play. Notably, this came without a cast of stars – particularly on the edge.
Eberflus didn’t blitz his way out of trouble, like former coordinator Dan Quinn might have. He largely relied on stunts, sending four and dropping into zone coverage. That trend largely carried over to Chicago, where his bend-don’t-break defense played more Cover 3 than much of the league, largely thanks to Eberflus’ Tampa 2 identity.
That makes a decent amount of sense for a team with an athletic back seven and two starting corners known for their ability to create turnovers (DaRon Bland, especially, in zone).
Eberflus has also spent time in Dallas, coaching the linebackers from 2011–2017 and adding passing game coordinator to his resume for his final two seasons. He left America’s Team for Indianapolis as to not push Rod Marinelli out of the defensive coordinator spot.
Before the Cowboys, Eberflus coached with the Cleveland Browns, Missouri, and Toledo, building a coaching career that shouldn’t be overlooked because of a poor stint in Chicago.
Some of Eberflus’ defensive staff will join him in Dallas, but having a coordinator who has been through the wringer as a head coach is helpful for Schottenheimer as he descends upon uncharted territory.
