Dallas Cowboys’ Interview Request for Red-Hot Coach Brutally Denied

January 9, 2026, 5:16pm EST 2K+ • By Orlando Silva

The Dallas Cowboys were denied a defensive coordinator interview.

The Dallas Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator got a big blow on Thursday. The NFC East team parted ways with Matt Eberflus after a single season in which they allowed 511 points, the most in franchise history.

Caron Beck Walks to the Locker Room after Winning Fiesta Bowl

The Cowboys will have the fourth defensive coordinator in the last four years, after employing Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer and Eberflus. They have identified early candidates, but the path to add a new DC included a roadblock.

According to Todd Archer of ESPN, the Cowboys requested to interview Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. The Falcons, however, denied the request.

“The Cowboys were denied by Atlanta to talk with Jeff Ulbrich for DC job, according to sources. He remains under contract w/ the Falcons despite their search for a head coach. A potential interview can be revisited later if they hire a HC, who has a different coordinator in mind,” Archer said.

Raheem Morris was dismissed as head coach on Monday, but Ulbrich, who made the Falcons one of the best defenses in the league, stays with the team.

Cowboys Start DC Search With 3 Candidates

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
The Cowboys quickly moved on from the Jeff Ulbrich situation. They will start the defensive coordinator search on Friday by interviewing two candidates. First, they will interview Minnesota Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones and Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda.

The search will continue on Saturday. Denver Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard will interview for the role, per Ian Rapoport.

Dallas had one of the worst seasons in recent years; they were dead last in passing yards allowed (4,521), 31st in touchdowns (35), 31st in interceptions (six), 31st in defensive rate (109.6), 23rd in rushing yards allowed (2,133) and 31st in rushing touchdowns (24).