Tag: Matt Eberflus

Reports: Cowboys closing in on Eagles’ Christian Parker as next DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys are working to hire Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker as their next defensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

Parker, 34, has spent the past two seasons working under Vic Fangio with the NFC East-rival Eagles.

Parker will be the fourth defensive coordinator hired in Dallas in as many years.

Matt Eberflus was fired as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator after he failed to repair a defense that struggled in 2024 then allowed 30.1 points and 377 yards per game in the 2025 season.

Dallas was 30th in total defense this past season and 32nd (last) in passing defense at 251.5 yards per game. It was last in third-down defense, giving up a first down on more than 47% of third-down snaps.

The Cowboys allowed a franchise-record 511 points on 59 opponents’ touchdowns and 11.9 yards per reception.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys pull plug on short-lived Matt Eberflus experiment

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Matt Eberflus is out in Dallas, where the former Bears head coach failed to repair a defense that allowed 30.1 points and 377 yards per game in the 2025 season.

Eberflus, a former linebackers coach with the Cowboys, was trumpeted as a home-run hire by franchise owner Jerry Jones last winter.

With the latest change, the Cowboys are set to hire a new defensive coordinator for the fourth time in four years.

Jones hinted Sunday night after a loss to the Giants to end the regular season that a full review of the defensive coaching staff was likely.

“I might not couch it as difficult,” Jones said of making another change at defensive coordinator. “It’s certainly something that we have to do. And that is to look at the entire year and look at what our options are, and how to correct it so we’re not here at the same time next year. Now, that’s not uncommon to evaluate at this time of the year — your entire coaching staff. And, obviously, the target is on him because of our statistical, as well as actual play on the defensive side of the ball, but that goes with it.”

Dallas subtracted All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons days before the regular season began and the Cowboys scrambled to field a productive defense most of the year.

Dallas was 30th in total defense, 32nd (last) in passing defense at 251.5 yards per game and last in third-down defense, giving up a first down on more than 47% of third-down snaps.

The Cowboys allowed a franchise-record 511 points, a total of 59 offensive touchdowns and 11.9 yards per reception.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears head coach head coach Matt Eberflus against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Report: Cowboys close to naming Matt Eberflus as DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is closing in on a deal to become the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

Eberflus is no stranger to the Cowboys, with whom he served as the linebackers coach from 2011-17.

Should he get the job, Eberflus would take over for Mike Zimmer, who departed Dallas after the team passed over him as its head coach in favor of offensive assistant Brian Schottenheimer.

Eberflus, 54, will have his work cut out for him after the Cowboys finished 28th in total yards allowed per game (355.2) and 31st in points allowed (27.5).

Eberflus spent two-plus seasons with the Bears before being fired the day after a Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions, finishing his tenure with a 14-32 record.

Before coaching the Bears, Eberflus was the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-21. He also was the linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2009-10.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) looks on after his game winning field goal attempt is blocked by Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Matt Eberflus, Bears cry foul to NFL on game-deciding FG block

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pictures and video point to a clear penalty on the Packers’ game-deciding blocked field goal on Sunday, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said the day after Green Bay escaped with a 20-19 win.

Eberflus said the Bears are sending a report and video of Chicago’s field-goal try as time expired to the NFL to repeat the complaint he shared with officials in real time on Karl Brooks’ block of Cairo Santos try for a game-winning 46-yarder.

“(The Packers) were on our longsnapper,” Eberflus said Monday, a violation of the NFL rule that defenses must leave the snapper “uncovered” on placement kicks.

The result of the play was Green Bay holding on for a 20-19 victory extending the Packers’ streak of wins over the Bears to 11 under head coach Matt LaFleur. Eberflus is 0-5 against the Packers and the Bears are 4-6 after starting the season 4-2.

Brooks said he only got his middle finger on the ball and was concerned upon contact that he didn’t slow the ball down enough. The play was the focus of special teams coach Rich Bisaccia in last week’s practices according to LaFleur. LaFleur said Bisaccia told the team he “wouldn’t understand” if they didn’t come out of the Week 11 game at Soldier Field with a blocked kick because of Santos’ penchant for lower, line-drive angles on longer kicks.

“We were going to block it,” Green Bay defensive lineman Kenny Clark said of what the Packers discussed on the final play. “We talked about TJ (Slaton) or KB (Brooks) blocking the kick all week. They’ve got holes in their field goal protection and a couple of them they got close. So we’ve been talking about that all week. It was a problem, so, coach Rich has been telling them all week and we ended up getting one.”

Eberflus repeated Monday that he didn’t regret not running another play to shorten the length of the field goal try on second down. Santos has never missed a field goal from 40 yards or closer, making all 71 of his tries from that distance with the Bears.

“We didn’t want to risk a fumble or a holding penalty. We felt good about where we were at on the field to kick the field goal,” Eberflus said Monday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus watches play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Bears HC Matt Eberflus to call defensive plays rest of season

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Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday that he’ll remain the team’s defensive play-caller for the rest of the season.

Eberflus has bore the responsibility the past two weeks, first with ex-defensive coordinator Alan Williams out for “personal reasons” and then this past Sunday in the aftermath of Williams’ resignation last week.

“We’ve talked about different things but that’s the plan right now,” Eberflus said Wednesday.

Through three games, the Bears (0-3) are allowing 35.3 points and 407.3 yards per game. They have just one sack. They are mired in a 13-game losing streak dating back to last season.

The Bears play the equally woeful Denver Broncos (0-3) on Sunday.

Williams resigned last week, citing health and family as the reasons. However, ESPN reported over the weekend that “inappropriate activity” led to his resignation. It’s not clear what it was, though it wasn’t criminal, per the report.

Eberflus was the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-21 before becoming the head coach of the Bears.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus speaks to the media during the Colts mandatory minicamp at the Colts Complex on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. Colts Minicamp

Reports: Bears select Matt Eberflus as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears are finalizing a contract to make Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus their next head coach, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

The move comes roughly 48 hours after the Bears hired Ryan Poles as their new general manager.

Eberflus had his second interview with the team Wednesday. He beat out Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and two-time former head coach Jim Caldwell, both of whom also had second interviews this week.

NFL Network reported Thursday that Quinn has informed teams that he’s returning to Dallas for the 2022 season. Quinn interviewed for six of the nine openings in the NFL.

Eberflus, 51, just finished his fourth season leading the Colts’ defense. He also was a finalist for the Jacksonville opening, which has yet to be filled.

Indianapolis finished 16th in the NFL in total defense (343.2 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (21.5 points per game) in 2021. The Colts allowed 21 or fewer points in 31 of his 65 games.

He previously coached the linebackers for the Cleveland Browns (2009-10) and Dallas Cowboys (2011-17). He was the defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-08 and was on staff at his alma mater, Toledo, from 1992-2000.

This will be his first head coaching job.

Eberflus replaces Matt Nagy, who was fired along with general manager Ryan Pace on Jan. 10 following a 6-11 season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Bears to line up second interviews with Dan Quinn, Jim Caldwell

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The Chicago Bears have narrowed their list of candidates for their head coaching vacancy.

The Bears will request second interviews with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and ex-Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell, according to multiple reports Monday.

In addition, current Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus will have his second interview for the job on Wednesday, and New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will get his first interview Tuesday.

Quinn is considered to be among the top candidates of the hiring cycle. The former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Quinn led that franchise to an appearance in Super Bowl LI, and helped resurrect the Dallas defense in his first season with the Cowboys. Quinn went 43-42 in five-plus seasons with the Falcons.

Caldwell coached the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11 and the Lions from 2014-17, compiling a 62-50 career record and four playoff appearances in those seven seasons. He has not worked in the NFL since serving as the Miami Dolphins’ assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach in 2019.

The Bears are also interviewing candidates for the general manager position concurrently with coach interviews. Chicago fired coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace on Jan. 10 following a 6-11 season.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus speaks to the media during the Colts mandatory minicamp at the Colts Complex on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. Colts Minicamp

Bears set second interview with Colts DC Matt Eberflus

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears are planning to interview Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for a second time for their head coach opening, according to multiple reports.

The interview will be Monday. The Bears are also interviewing candidates for general manager. They have interviewed seven of the 14 names on their GM list, per reports. It’s unclear if the team is prepared to hire a head coach before a general manager, which would buck norms.

Eberflus is also a finalist for the Jacksonville post. He’s scheduled for a second interview with the Jags on Thursday, per reports.

Eberflus, 51, just finished his fourth season leading the Colts’ defense.

He previously coached the linebackers for the Browns (2009-10) and Dallas Cowboys (2011-17). He was the defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-08 and was on staff at his alma mater, Toledo, from 1992-2000.

Indianapolis finished 16th in the NFL in total defense (343.2 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (21.5 points per game) in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus talks with linebacker Darius Leonard (53) during the Colts training camp at Grand Park in Westfield on Monday, August 6, 2018. Indianapolis Colts Training Camp At Grand Park In Westfield

Reports: Jags, Bears to interview Colts DC Matt Eberflus

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Bears and Jaguars want to interview Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

Eberflus will interview for Jacksonville’s head coaching job on Saturday, and Chicago has requested a meeting with the Indianapolis assistant coach, per the reports.

Eberflus, 51, just finished his fourth season leading the Colts defense and has interviewed for past vacancies with the New York Jets, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns.

He previously coached the linebackers for the Browns (2009-10) and Dallas Cowboys (2011-17). He was the defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-08 and was on staff at his alma mater Toledo from 1992-2000.

The Colts (9-8) were eliminated from the playoff picture with a disastrous 26-11 loss Sunday at Jacksonville (3-14).

Indianapolis finished 16th in the NFL in total defense (343.2 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (21.5 points per game) in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus against the Houston Texans during the AFC Wild Card at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Colts DC Matt Eberflus out Sunday for COVID-19 protocol

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Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus missed Sunday’s preseason game against the visiting Carolina Panthers for COVID-19 related reasons.

The team did not specify whether Eberflus had tested positive or come in close contact with an infected person.

The Colts said safeties coach Alan Williams would handle his duties on Sunday.

Eberflus, 51, has been Indy’s defensive coordinator since 2018. Before that, he was an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys (2011-17) and Cleveland Browns (2009-10).

–Field Level Media