The Cowboys aren’t being subtle about their intentions with pending defensive coordinator hire

There’s a clear theme emerging in the list of eight candidates for Cowboys DC that we know so far.

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer

Jan 14, 2026 2:35 PM EST

The Dallas Cowboys are taking their time with their defensive coordinator hire, and for good reason. Some candidates on their radar are still in head coaching interviews, and one many consider a favorite is still competing in the NFL playoffs: Jim Leonhard of the Denver Broncos.

But as we wait, there’s one thing we’ve learned from their search. The Cowboys are favoring defensive coaches with a specific background, and it happens to be one that fits with one of the team’s biggest weaknesses: The secondary.

Cowboys favoring DB coaches

Five out of eight candidates the Cowboys are known to be considering have a background in coaching defensive backs. Out of the six coaches with no coordinator experience at the NFL level on their interview list, four coached defensive backs (and three are passing game coordinators). The two exceptions are in-house candidate and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, and New York Giants linebackers coach Charlie Bullen (who was interim DC in 2025).

As for the only former NFL head coach on the list so far, Jonathan Gannon, he rose through the NFL ranks coaching defensive backs in Minnesota and later Indianapolis.

Hiring pass-game coordinators to serve as defensive coordinators or even head coaches has become a common practice in the NFL. With the passing game dictating so much of today’s game, it’s a priority to build a solid foundation of coverage to address the many threats of modern offenses.

In the past, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator searches focused on former head coaches. This year’s search, which appears to be spearheaded by head coach Brian Schottenheimer more than the front office, has young coaches who can coach defensive backs at the top of the list.

A strong selling point for candidates

The theme of their search also aligns with the Cowboys’ massive problem in the secondary: a lack of players.

DaRon Bland is the best cornerback on the team, and he recently underwent foot surgery for the second time in as many years. Shavon Revel Jr. had ups and downs as a rookie, and the hope is that he improves with a full offseason, but he’s a question mark going into the 2026 offseason. At safety, there aren’t many answers either.

How can this be a selling point? The Cowboys often give defensive coordinators significant input on who they bring in during their first year to build a defense their way. There are plenty of vacancies across Dallas’ defense. Whoever comes in will likely have significant freedom in signing players in free agency, albeit with a limited budget.

With all of the above being said, the Cowboys keep adding names to their interview list, and by no means does this mean they’ll for sure hire a DB specialist for their top defensive gig. But so far, their search suggests they intend to prioritize coaches with secondary experience.

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Mauricio Rodriguez