Jerry Jones asserts that the Cowboys' defensive issues cannot be solely attributed to Matt Eberflus
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Following a disappointing 34-17 defeat against the New York Giants, the Cowboys conclude their 2025 season with a record of 7-9-1, marking the inaugural year of the Brian Schottenheimer era.
Starting tomorrow, the Cowboys will embark on their post-season evaluation process, which will include after-action reports and various self-assessments. Central to this review will be an analysis of the defense, which has struggled significantly this season, ranking among the worst in the NFL. In their latest game, they allowed 380 total yards of offense to New York, marking the ninth occasion this season they conceded 30 or more points.
This performance has sparked considerable discussion regarding the future of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. However, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones emphasized before the game that the responsibility for the team's defensive shortcomings should not rest solely on Eberflus's shoulders.
"Don’t place all the blame on [Matt Eberflus]," Jones stated. "This situation has developed over five or six years. It’s the result of various combinations of philosophies over time. Many individuals have influenced our current state, and I can argue that our defense has not been satisfactory for the past five or six years."
Eberflus is the third defensive coordinator the Cowboys have employed in as many years. When discussing the reasons behind the unsatisfactory performance of the Dallas defense in recent seasons, Jones pointed to both the team's choices in coordinators and the overall scheme.
"In our case, you can’t really address one without considering the other," Jones explained. "If you reflect on the decisions we made regarding the defense three or five years ago, you have to ask… Why did we make those choices regarding coaches at that time? What were our expectations concerning our personnel?"
"Thus, it’s inaccurate to evaluate Eberflus in isolation. This issue is much broader than that."
Does this imply that Eberflus might return as the defensive coordinator in 2026?
"I’m not making any statements in that regard," Jones replied. "However, I want to provide a clear answer without leaning one way or the other. What I can say is that we are ready to get down to business and start first thing in the morning."
The last coordinator to serve more than one season with the Cowboys was Dan Quinn, who led the team to rank 12th and 5th in yards allowed per game during his final two seasons before departing to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders. Those defenses performed significantly better than the 2025 unit, but Jones noted that their postseason performance raised concerns.
"We struggled to stop the run when it mattered most," Jones remarked. "Dan did an excellent job, and we genuinely wanted to retain him. However, if you analyze the reasons behind the high turnover during that period and compare it to the results, it becomes clear that you can’t solely blame our current defensive situation on Eberflus. He wasn’t even here when much of the personnel we have on the field this year was assembled."
"Moreover, he wasn’t involved when we established some of the principles regarding personnel and scheme, or how our players adapt and complement our strategic approach. Therefore, we need to take a comprehensive, long-term view of our defensive strategy."
As for how long this evaluation might take, Jones expressed uncertainty.
"I’m not sure; it will likely depend more on our time constraints than on how long we should take to study it," Jones said. "However, we can certainly do this, and it will align with our draft evaluations."
Does this self-assessment extend to observing other teams in the league and seeing how their situations unfold?
"You can do that, but it’s more important for us to define and dictate what we want our defense to be," Jones stated. "That’s the direction I intend to lead us in."
Jones is poised to guide the Cowboys through what could be one of the most significant offseasons in recent memory, one he believes could yield substantial changes.
"I believe we can implement strategies this offseason that will significantly enhance our players and personnel availability. We have the potential to make a dramatic difference, perhaps the most impactful we’ve seen in a long time," Jones concluded.
