For whatever reason fans seem to think Jones is pushing for Gannon, but if anyone is there "pushing" for him it's almost assuredly Kolton Adams, who was on Gannon's Arizona staff.
1. Jonathan Gannon
He spent the last three seasons as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. While Arizona only won 15 games during that time,
Gannon is regarded as one of the top young defensive minds in the game. He was the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022, which included a Super Bowl appearance. The 43-year-old was the defensive backs coach in Indianapolis from 2018 to 2020. He was the assistant defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 to 2017. Gannon has the best resume of the candidates the Cowboys have interviewed, being the only former NFL head coach. Dallas’ last five defensive coordinators have been previous NFL head coaches, but that is not considered to be a requirement in this search. Gannon also has ties with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. He is one of three candidates to interview for the job in person.
2. Jim Leonhard
Leonhard was the Denver Broncos’ assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator during the 2025 season. He was the defensive passing-game coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2024. Leonhard, 43, played safety in the NFL from 2005-2014 before standing out as a college assistant coach at Wisconsin. While working as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator, he was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to college football’s top assistant coach. Leonhard would have likely had an in-person interview, but the Broncos are preparing for the AFC Championship Game. The Cowboys could be waiting for another interview with him before making their final decision.
3. Daronte Jones
Jones was the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive passing-game coordinator and defensive backs coach the last three seasons. The 47-year-old was just the Vikings’ defensive backs coach in 2022 and 2020. He was LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. Depending on what happens with current Minnesota DC Brian Flores, who teams are interested in as a head-coaching candidate, Jones could end up becoming the Vikings’ next defensive coordinator. He also interviewed for the Cowboys’ DC job in person.
4. Christian Parker
He has spent the last two seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive passing-game coordinator and defensive backs coach. The 34-year-old was the Denver Broncos’ defensive backs coach from 2021 to 2023. He began his NFL coaching career as a defensive quality control assistant for the Green Bay Packers in 2019. Parker is also a candidate to be the Packers’ next defensive coordinator. He also interviewed for the Cowboys’ DC job in person.
5. Zach Orr
The Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator over the last two seasons, Orr, 33, played three seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with the Ravens. He began his coaching career in 2017 as a defensive analyst for Baltimore. He coached outside linebackers in Jacksonville in 2021 and then inside linebackers for the Ravens in 2022 and 2023. The Dallas product and former North Texas standout certainly has the resume to be in consideration for the job.
6. DeMarcus Covington
He was the Green Bay Packers’ defensive line coach and defensive run-game coordinator in 2025 after spending the 2024 season as New England Patriots defensive coordinator. Covington, 36, has also spent time as a defensive line coach and outside linebackers coach for the Patriots.
7. Charlie Bullen
He was the New York Giants’ outside linebackers coach the last two seasons. Bullen was named New York’s interim defensive coordinator after Shane Bowen was fired in late November. The 41-year-old Bullen also has experience coaching linebackers for the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.
8. Aaron Whitecotton
He has spent the last year as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach. He was previously the New York Jets’ defensive line coach (2021 to 2024). Whitecotton, 44, has 13 years of NFL experience that includes coaching defensive linemen in San Francisco, Buffalo and Jacksonville. The only reason he isn’t higher on the list is that it seems like if he were the choice, Dallas would have made that move already. Whitecotton took on a larger role late in the season when Eberflus moved up to the coaching box. He certainly seems like someone the Cowboys want to keep on their staff.
9. Ephraim Banda
Banda coached safeties for the Cleveland Browns over the last three seasons. Prior to that, Banda, 44, spent his time in the college ranks as a co-defensive coordinator at Miami (2019-2020) and then defensive coordinator at Utah State (2021 and 2022).