As expected the Dallas Cowboys wasted no time in firing Defensive Coordinator Matt Ebberflus on Monday Morning. After months and months of rumours and speculation, the Dallas Cowboys wasted no time, in firing their much maligned Defensive Coordinator. Although head coach Brian Schottenheimer backed him all season long, but the lack of adjustements all season long, was Ebberflus doing, as his defensive scheme of playing zone, and getting away from man to man defense, left the Cowboys defense in disarray, which forced the offense to score 40 plus points a game which was nearly impossible.

Here are three candidates the Cowboys could interview and potentially sign to be the next defensive coordinator in 2026:

Jim Schwartz

He has been the defensive coordinator for the Browns the last three seasons, and has been a success with NFL defenses in his career. Over the last three seasons, Cleveland is first in the league in EPA/play allowed by a considerable margin. The year prior to his arrival, Cleveland was 25th in EPA/play allowed.

Schartz checks off the right boxes, that the Cowboys are looking for. He was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, when they won their first Super Bowl. He was a previous head coach going 29-51 in five seasons with the Lions. With the Browns, firing Kevin Stefanski on Monday, he has become available .

Schwarz is known as a X’S and O’s mastermind. He is very selective and tailors his defensive to each weeks matchup. He honed his craft under Greg Williams, and Jeff Fisher with the Titans, who Schotteinheimer worked with, when he was with the Rams.

Jim Leonhard

One of the two most commonly list of Defensive Coordinators, the other one been Brian Flores, which is a pipe dream. Leonhard is currently the passing game coordinator and assistant head coach for the Broncos.

In Denver Leonhard, has turned the Broncos defensive into a powerhouse and one of the teams who are favoured to reach the Super Bowl. His defensive Secondary has been elite.Prior to joining Denver he coached his alma mater Wisconsin, where he went 4-3 as a head coach.

Considered a rising star, he could get potential interviews as a few vacant head coaching positions have become available.

Raheem Morris

Hiring a recently fired Atlanta Falcons head coach, worked well last time for the Cowboys, when the Cowboys hired Dan Quinn, who turned the Cowboys secondary into elite one.

Raheem Morris will be a hot commodity for Defensive Coordinators around the league. Atlanta wasted no time as they fired him before the dreaded Black Monday for coaches, as he was let go after their game vs New Orleans on Sunday.

Head coaching might not be in the cards for Morris, who had a record of 37-56 with the three stints between the Buccaneers and Falcons. Over the three years he ran the Rams defense prior to returning to Atlanta, Morris’ defenses were 12th in EPA/play. He also won a Super Bowl with the Rams. A longtime associate of Quinn, bringing Morris to Dallas would be a way to get back to the schemes they had run when Quinn was in town.