Cowboys may be well prepared for loss of $111 million, 9x All-Pro reidhanson Zack Martin is at a crossroads in his Dallas Cowboys career. The 34-year-old guard has had a Hall of Fame worthy career since joining the Cowboys in 2014. He’s been selected to nine Pro Bowls and earned seven First-Team All-Pro (2x Second-Team) throughout his 11 seasons. The only time he didn’t qualify for one or the other were in his injury shortened 2020 and 2024 campaigns. With more Pro Bowl appearances than career holding penalties, Martin is undeniably one of the all-time greats. Despite this, the Cowboys legend may be on his way out of Dallas. Martin is coming off an uncharacteristically pedestrian season. Whether it was age or injury that was the primary cause for the decline is difficult to say. But Martin didn’t look his usual self, and it impacted the Cowboys offensive line in a rather significant way. After reworking his contract before the 2023 season, void years were affixed on the back end beginning in 2025 (per Over the Cap). It has given both parties an out in the contract should either side decide to turn the page on this dominant era in Cowboys history. Martin has made over $111 million over his career in Dallas, but there’s over $27 million remaining to be allocated to the books over the next few seasons. The Cowboys have been in the business of turning pages on the offensive line as of late. Last season they parted with great left tackle Tyron Smith and a young veteran in center Tyler Biadasz. This season they rebuilt their coaching staff and look to mix up the blocking scheme. Saving money has been the name of the game and gambling big dollars on a veteran who may be on the decline is something the front office wants to avoid. But can the Cowboys survive the loss? To those who were paying attention in 2024 the answer is probably a firm, “yes.” Brock Hoffman, the man who was beat out at starting center by the rookie Cooper Beebe in training camp, proved to be more than capable at right guard. Hoffman embodied the type of nasty attitude offensive lines strive for. He was routinely playing through the whistle, virtually living under the skin of his opponents. He doesn’t have the stratospheric ceiling of Martin, but he played like a plus-level starter in the seven starts he made. Not to be forgotten, T.J. Bass also appears to be a solid replacement option. He was the expected heir apparent at RG when the 2024 season kicked off and he’s a player who already possesses a starting caliber skillset. The two guard options give the Cowboys a lot to work with if Martin does indeed depart Dallas. Their presence would allow the Cowboys to survive such a monumental departure and save the team fairly significant money in the process. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Everything you need to know about the Cowboys 3 new defensive coaches
Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Cowboys are filling out their staff. The Dallas Cowboys have been hard at work in building the coaching staff under Brian Schottenheimer. Just a day after officially hiring Matt Eberflus to be the defensive coordinator, they hired three assistants under him. Here’s everything you need to know about these new coaches. Pass game coordinator Andre Curtis Andre Curtis has a history with both Schottenheimer and Eberflus. The 48-year old coach played linebacker at Virginia Military Institute, overlapping with then defensive line coach Dan Quinn for a year, before beginning his coaching career at his alma mater. Curtis broke into the NFL in 2006 as a quality control coach with the Giants, where he first met current Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Curtis won a Super Bowl with the Giants, a season in which Spagnuolo’s defense was one of the best in the league. When Spagnuolo got hired as the Rams head coach, he brought Curtis with him as his defensive backs coach. After three seasons, Spagnuolo was fired and joined the Saints as defensive coordinator, once again bringing Curtis with him to assist in the secondary. Spagnuolo left after just one year, but Curtis was retained under new coordinator Rob Ryan, who had just left Dallas. After two seasons working under Ryan, Curtis left to coach safeties for the Seahawks. The position opened up after Kris Richard was promoted to defensive coordinator to replace Quinn. Two seasons later, Curtis was promoted to full time defensive backs coach, and new Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen was reassigned from assisting with the Seahawks special teams to assisting Curtis. A year later, Richard was fired (precipitating his move to Dallas) and Curtis was named the defensive pass game coordinator, a role he held up until the 2021 season. He then joined the Bears on Eberflus’ inaugural coaching staff, working with the safeties. While there, Curtis oversaw the development of both Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker into top safeties. When Eberflus took over defensive play-calling during the 2023 season, Curtis began assisting with the third-down defensive strategies; for what it’s worth, Chicago finished that season 29th in third-down defense, but rebounded to 13th in 2024. Overall, Curtis makes a lot of sense here. He overlapped with Schottenheimer in Seattle and holds three esteemed defensive minds – Spagnuolo, Pete Carroll, and Eberflus – as the main influences on him. Curtis has also overseen the rapid growth of several young players, which makes him a strong addition in Dallas. DL coach Aaron Whitecotton The addition of Aaron Whitecotton brought some fanfare, and for good reason. The new defensive line coach is still fairly young, as he started his coaching career in 2013 as a defensive quality control coach with the Jaguars. As part of the inaugural staff of head coach Gus Bradley, formerly the first defensive coordinator of the Pete Carroll era in Seattle, Whitecotton was learning from an esteemed mind. After three years with the Jaguars, Whitecotton was promoted to assistant defensive line coach. However, Bradley was fired midseason, and Whitecotton was forced to find a new home. He joined the Bills on Sean McDermott’s inaugural staff, reuniting with former Jaguars defensive coordinator Bob Babich and assisting with the defensive line. After three seasons, he took the same position with the 49ers under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who had coached linebackers in Jacksonville under Bradley and Babich. Saleh left to be the Jets head coach one year later, and he brought Whitecotton as his defensive line coach, the first time Whitecotton had led a position group. Over the next four years, Whitecotton was instrumental in the rapid development of several star defensive linemen, including Bryce Huff, John Franklin-Myers, Will McDonald IV, Jermaine Johnson, and Quinnen Williams. Whitecotton also spent three of those seasons working with Carl Lawson, currently a pending free agent for the Cowboys who has already expressed a desire to return. Schematically, Whitecotton has a lot in common with Eberflus. He comes from the school of Pete Carroll, whose own defensive scheme, like Eberflus, is derived from Monte Kiffin; of note, Kiffin actually served as a senior defensive assistant for one season in Jacksonville while Whitecotton was there. In Whitecotton’s final three years with the Jets, his defensive line ranked in the top 10 in both pressure rate and sacks each season. Given how Eberflus prefers to win with just four pass rushers, adding a coach like Whitecotton is a major coup. LB coach Dave Borgonzi Dave Borgonzi always seemed like a lock to join the Cowboys once Eberflus was made official; the two have coached together for 10 of the last 14 seasons. Borgonzi, whose brother was just named the general manager of the Titans, played linebacker at Amherst College before working at Syracuse and Harvard, first as a graduate assistant and then as a defensive backs coach. Not long after Eberflus was hired in Dallas back in 2011 as the linebackers coach, following Rob Ryan from Cleveland, the team added Borgonzi as a defensive assistant specializing in the linebackers. In 2013, he was moved to the offensive side, but then left for the Buccaneers. In four seasons with the Buccaneers, Borgonzi served as a defensive assistant on Lovie Smith’s staff, another disciple of the Monte Kiffin school of defense. When Eberflus became the coordinator for the Colts in 2018, he reunited with Borgonzi, having him coach the linebackers. Borgonzi followed Eberflus to Chicago in the same role. In breaking down Eberflus’ defensive scheme, the linebackers were noted as a position of extreme importance, which is why Eberflus – himself a linebackers coach by trade – has been so keen on retaining Borgonzi everywhere he goes. Borgonzi has been viewed as a rising star, fielding multiple interviews for coordinator positions throughout his time working under Eberflus, but he’s remained by his mentor’s side. Expect him to play a key role in installing the new scheme and getting the linebacker corps – which
Cowboys sign TE coach Lunda Wells to contract extension
Cowboys sign TE coach Lunda Wells to contract extension Todd Brock The Cowboys have had to fend off suitors for Lunda Wells in recent offseasons, blocking an interview request as recently as last February after Dan Quinn expressed interest in bringing the well-respected tight ends coach to Washington. Now he’s officially off the market for this hiring cycle, too. Wells will stay in Dallas for Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach, according to the 41-year-old himself via a report from Patrik Walker of the team website. Wells and the team have agreed on a contract extension that will keep him on staff, maintaining some continuity on the offensive side of the ball as Schottenheimer, the former offensive coordinator, continues to build his staff. It was not immediately specified if Wells will return to the Cowboys as tight ends coach or perhaps, as some have proposed, in another capacity. Wells had reportedly gotten some interest from the Bears and new head coach Ben Johnson; he visited with Chicago earlier in the week. Wells was an assistant O-line coach with the Giants for several years before taking over their tight end room for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He joined the Cowboys staff as tight ends coach in 2020, where he has overseen the development of Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz, and Jake Ferguson, who was named to the Pro Bowl in 2023. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The Louisiana native has also been instrumental in the progress shown by 2023 second-round draft pick Luke Schoonmaker. As a rookie, Schoonmaker put up very meager stats over his first 17 games as a pro. In his second season, the Michigan man more than doubled his targets, more than tripled his catches, and saw a 270% increase in receiving yards. This contract extension for Wells will bring him back to Dallas for a sixth season with the Cowboys.
Without a philosophy shift, the Cowboys could be chasing the Eagles for years to come
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images It feels like the Cowboys have a long way to go to catch the Eagles. In a little over a week, the Philadelphia Eagles will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. This will mark the fourth time since the year 2005 that the Eagles have achieved the spectacular feat of making it to football’s biggest stage. During the same time span, America’s Team, our very own Dallas Cowboys, have failed to record a single appearance in an NFC Championship game. Right now, the Cowboys and Eagles are opposite organizations in many ways. The Eagles are aggressive in player acquisition and willing to take financial risks to acquire outside talent. The Cowboys chose to virtually sit out free agency altogether, which was proved by Dallas being the only team in the NFL not to sign an outside free agent to a deal totaling $30M or more since 2013. On the field, the Eagles resemble their fans with their ultra-aggressive playstyle and mentality. They are consistently up to the challenge and show up in big moments. The same can’t be said about the Cowboys, who in recent memory, seem to come up short when the lights shine the most bright. Just making the Super Bowl once is an achievement in itself, but securing your spot four times in even a little over two decades is an extremely impressive feat. Even if things don’t go their way and the Eagles lose to Kansas City, as they did back in Super Bowl 57, they’ve given reasons to believe and be confident their organization has what it takes to make it back again rather quickly, just like they did this season. The Eagles are currently run as well as any franchise in the NFL. Philadelphia has nailed their last four drafts and shown the willingness to lock up their star players early, refusing to let the market dictate what they will pay. The Eagles are also willing to spend out outside free agents as much as any team in the league, a huge advantage when looking to build a Super Bowl-caliber team. All these things have made the Eagles what they are and will continue to give them chances to win it all in the coming years. Like it or not, the Eagles aren’t going anywhere. Defenders Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, and Nolan Smith Jr. are all 25 years or younger, and all but Davis are under contract for at least two more seasons. On the offensive side of things, the Eagles have two budding starts on the offensive line in Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens, paired with veterans Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, who are both under contract for at least one more season. To make the future look even brighter for Philly, A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, and DeVonta Smith are all locked up until 2029, and All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley has two full seasons left on his deal with a cap number no greater than $9.3M. Philadelphia’s offense is led by Kellen Moore, who many speculated may leave Philadelphia to become the next Cowboys’ head coach. As we all now know, Moore never got the job, meaning the Eagles’ league-leading offense might retain their offensive coordinator for at least one more season although the New Orleans Saints just might lure him away. Moore staying would be a big positive for an offense that had by far the best rushing attack in the league this season. Looking down the line, the Eagles have plenty of cap flexibility to make outside acquisitions in free agency to improve their team. This offseason, Philadelphia has $18M in cap space that can easily be turned into $30-40M with some simple restructures. After this upcoming year, Philadelphia is projected to have $36M of cap space in 2026 and $102M in 2027. It’s not just the financial ability to make aggressive moves to improve your team; it’s the willingness to do so that sets the Eagles apart from the Cowboys right now. Dallas could restructure some of their own contracts and have just as much, if not more, cap space than the Eagles this offseason, but with their current strategy, it wouldn’t mean much. Even with $45M in cap space, there’s zero reason to believe it would lead the Cowboys to spend on players at the top of the free-agent market. Philadelphia signing Barkley last March is a perfect example of where both teams currently stand. Did the Eagles absolutely need to sign Barkley? No, but they recognized the potential to acquire a generational talent that could be a true difference-maker for their offense, and they went out and got it done. Barkley was, and still is, a perfect fit for the Cowboys. Dallas could have easily afforded the three-year $37M deal he signed with Philadelphia and still locked up their stars. Still, once again, the Cowboys were too stubborn to change their own philosophy and let a franchise-changing player go to a division rival without even a thought of signing him. During Brian Schottenheimer’s introductory press conference, Stephen Jones mentioned how the Cowboys are going to take a “long hard look” at how they’ve operated in free agency and change some things if needed. Getting back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1996 may hinge on just how truthful Jones was with that statement. It’s hard to look at a division rival’s success and marvel at it, but the Eagles are operating the way the Cowboys should be. If the Cowboys want to catch them in the coming years and not continue lagging in the rearview mirror, they’ll need to adopt Philadelphia’s organizational philosophy and start acting the way America’s Team should.
Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: QB Trey Lance
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Trey Lance is among the Dallas Cowboys free agents this offseason. The Dallas Cowboys have a long list of unrestricted free agents who will officially hit the open market in a little less than two months. Of those, six or seven were significant contributors in 2024, meaning the Cowboys have some difficult decisions ahead of them in the coming weeks. Today’s free agent profile series examines a player who wasn’t one of those significant contributors because he barely saw the field last season. That would be quarterback Trey Lance. Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images 2024 Regular Season Stats: 4G, 61% Completion Percentage, 266 Passing Yards, 13 1D, 40% Passing Success Rate, 1 INT, 11 Rushing Attempts, 41 Rushing Yards Year Review: Trey Lance’s 2024 season with the Dallas Cowboys was characterized by limited opportunities and mixed performances. The 24-year-old quarterback, who the Cowboys acquired in August of 2023, spent nearly the entirety of the regular season as Dallas’ third-string quarterback. Even when Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending injury in Week 9, Dallas refused to elevate Lance to the starting lineup, leaving him cemented behind Cooper Rush as their clear backup. Lance got some brief playing time during a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10, but after that, he did not see the field for more than one snap until the final week of the regular season. Dallas gave Lance a chance to start their regular-season finale against the Commanders, and the results were not pretty. The former first-round pick completed just 20 of his 34 passes for 244 yards and consistently struggled to hit open receivers. Lance’s performance made it clear that he currently does not possess the accuracy to become a stating-caliber quarterback at the NFL level. The decision to trade for Lance has always been a head-scratching move, but not playing him in a lost season until the year’s final game may be even more confusing. Dallas had a golden opportunity to give Lance three or four starts down the stretch to see what he could do in an extended playing period. Instead, they waited until the final week of the year and threw Lance to the fire without their best offensive weapon in CeeDee Lamb. Regardless, Lance did not take advantage of the opportunity and capped off a very tumultuous season with his poor showing against the Commanders. Free Agency Outlook: The Cowboys declined Lance’s fifth-year option before the start of the regular season, so he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Given Lance’s lack of playing time, it’s hard to project what the quarterback’s market will look like this spring. With so much inexperience and on-field struggles when he did get a chance to play, it’s not likely a team is willing to give Lance a multi-year contract. The 24-year-old will likely have to sign a one-year deal to hopefully serve as a team’s backup next season. Even with all the negatives going against him, there could still be some teams that are infatuated with Lance’s potential. His mobility and athleticism could be an intriguing trait to an organization that believes they could fix his accuracy issues. Last offseason, we saw 23 quarterbacks sign free-agent deals. Despite Lance’s struggles, there will always be a demand for good quarterback play, and teams will always be willing to give players a second chance. Last spring, Mason Rudolph and Carson Wentz signed one-year deals worth $2.8M and $3.2M, respectively. This is likely a good benchmark for where Lance could end up AAV-wise on a potential one-year deal. Cowboys Verdict: When the Cowboys traded for Trey Lance back in August 2023, the move made little to no sense. Today, the same thing rings true, and his time in Dallas has almost certainly come to an end. With all Dallas’ other needs to address this offseason, it’s hard to see them allocating even a small amount of cap space to bring back Lance and have him serve as their backup or third-string quarterback. To make a Lance return even more unlikely, Dallas’ long-time backup quarterback, Cooper Rush, is also a free agent this offseason. Unless a team gives Rush a deal to let him compete for a starting spot, there’s virtually zero chance Dallas would choose to bring Lance back over the veteran. While Rush has not lit the world on fire when he filled in as the starter, he has won some games, and right or wrong, the organization has plenty of faith in his ability to steady the ship if Dak Prescott is to go down again. Overall, Trey Lance’s tenure as a Dallas Cowboy will end with more questions than answers, as the former first-round pick will search for his next opportunity this March. Prediction: Trey Lance signs a one-year, $2.5M deal with the New York Jets
Alternate Reality: Cowboys could’ve been led by Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer as opposed to current path
Alternate Reality: Cowboys could’ve been led by Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer as opposed to current path reidhanson Everyone remembers the one that got away. From the girl next door to the job offer with the bad timing, hindsight can be cruel as much as it can be educational. For the Dallas Cowboys, Sean Peyton is often seen as the head coach that got away. Once a Cowboys offensive coordinator under Bill Parcells, Payton was seen as the next great coach in Cowboys lore. As luck would have it, Parcells stayed on one year too long and Payton jumped ship one year too early, essentially killing the dream. Looking at the current situation in Dallas, it’s difficult not to think about what could have been once again. Over the past 13 months the Cowboys had a few desirable coaches on their staff and if they would have played things differently, they could have had considerably different setup today. After losing to Green Bay in the playoffs in the most embarrassing way possible one year ago, many believed McCarthy was a lock to get fired. The team was ill-prepared, unfocused and unmotivated. It was an indictment on a head coach that throughout his time in Dallas couldn’t win a postseason game against a team with a winning record. If the Cowboys would have fired McCarthy after that Packers loss, Dallas probably could have had Dan Quinn as their head coach in 2024. Not only that, dumping McCarthy would have unchained Brian Schottenheimer as the offensive coordinator. McCarthy never let Schottenheimer call plays during their time together and it was generally viewed as McCarthy’s offense through and through. Instead, the Cowboys stuck with McCarthy one more season, opening the door to Quinn’s departure and empowering the NFC East rival Commanders to complete one of the NFL’s biggest franchise turnarounds. There is an alternate reality in 2025 as well. Let’s say the Cowboys stuck with McCarthy and 2024 unfolded just as it did. But instead of elevating Schottenheimer to head coach, the Cowboys elevated Mike Zimmer instead. Zimmer was making headway on the Dallas defense in his one year as defensive coordinator. He survived a litany of injuries and instilled discipline in a notoriously undisciplined unit. It stands to reason with a healthy roster and a couple new pieces, the Cowboys defense could bounce back to elite ranks in no time. Much like the Quinn example a year prior, elevating the defensive coordinator to head coach wouldn’t necessarily run Schottenheimer out of town. Schottenheimer wanted to call plays and by most accounts wasn’t a high demand coaching prospect this winter. It stands to reason simply offering him control of the offense would be enough to keep him on board for the foreseeable future. In this scenario the Cowboys could have elevated fan favorite Al Harris to take over as Zimmer’s defensive coordinator or even brought in the current coordinator Matt Eberflus. It would still be Zimmer’s defense but would add additional coaching talent to franchise. In both scenarios Schottenheimer is running the offense it’s just the defense that’s in different hands. Theoretically the Cowboys could have had their cake and eaten it too. Maybe all things worked out for the best. Quinn got his chance to pull a franchise up from the dirt and the Cowboys dodged a coach whose postseason ended in another defensive meltdown. Zimmer wasn’t the most daring head coach in Minnesota so maybe he wouldn’t be a great option for the Cowboys. Based on possible gained win percentage, his fourth-down decision making finished in the middle of the pack (one spot worse than the Cowboys from 2014-2021) and he might have put Schottenheimer under his thumb as so many of Schottenheimer’s coaches had done in the past. It’s impossible to know how things would have turned out but it’s interesting to look back and envision how things could have been. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
New Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen comes with unique background
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images It is going to be difficult for the Cowboys to replace John Fassel. The Dallas Cowboys landed their new special teams coordinator on Tuesday, hiring Nick Sorensen to replace John Fassel. Sorensen has ties to new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, having worked on the same Seahawks and Jaguars staffs, but his résumé is otherwise pretty unique for a special teams coach. Welcome to Dallas, Coach Sorensen! ⭐️#DallasCowboys | : https://t.co/18FxaSGNuA pic.twitter.com/oyERaW5WeB — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 28, 2025 Sorensen is set to begin his 13th season as a coach, but his first year in Dallas will mark just his second as a special teams coordinator. He also comes to the Cowboys after a one year stint as the 49ers defensive coordinator. So what is there to know about this new coach? Let’s start from the beginning. Sorensen, a Virginia native, committed to Virginia Tech to play quarterback. After two seasons alternating at the starting role, Sorensen was permanently benched when the Hokies landed freshman phenom Michael Vick. Soon after, Sorensen was moved to defense, playing a hybrid safety/linebacker role. Sorensen went undrafted in 2001 despite being fourth on the team in tackles during a national championship run. He spent two seasons with the Rams, where Sorensen played alongside defensive lineman Jeff Zgonina, who coached the Cowboys defensive line this past season. He then had a four-year stint with the Jaguars, primarily seeing work as a special teams player and even being named a team captain. Sorensen then spent four years with the Browns before a neck injury led to his retirement. Of note, though, is the fact that his last two years in Cleveland saw Rob Ryan running the defense and Matt Eberflus coaching the linebackers. Both coaches would move to Dallas the year after Sorensen retired, of course. A few years after Sorensen retired, he joined the Seahawks as the assistant special teams coach. Seattle won the Super Bowl his first year on the staff and returned to the Super Bowl the next year. After three seasons assisting Brian Schneider with the special teams, Sorensen also added the title of assistant defensive backs coach. He then transitioned fully to coaching defensive backs and held that role for the next four seasons in Seattle. Schneider, Sorensen’s former special teams mentor, left the Seahawks for the same job in Jacksonville under new head coach Urban Meyer. After four months on the job, and shortly before training camp began, Schneider abruptly stepped away from the team. Meyer pivoted to Sorensen, giving him his first coordinator job. The move also reunited him with Schottenheimer, who had spent the previous three seasons as the Seahawks offensive coordinator, and was working as the Jaguars’ new quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator. In case you, like so many Jaguars fans, have purged that season from your memory permanently, it did not go well. Meyer was fired before the season even ended, and kicker Josh Lambo later sued Meyer for assault and battery, among other things. Needless to say, Sorensen’s only season as a special teams coordinator wasn’t great – Jacksonville finished 31st in special teams DVOA – but it’s hard to attribute much of that to Sorensen himself, especially considering he didn’t even join until late in the offseason. After Jacksonville, Sorensen wound up in San Francisco as a defensive assistant specializing with the linebackers. The move reunited him with Schneider, who had just joined as the special teams coordinator. A year later, Sorensen was promoted to pass game coordinator to help new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks maintain the bones of the 49ers defense despite being an outside hire. When Kyle Shanahan made the controversial decision to fire Wilks a couple days after losing in the Super Bowl, he promoted Sorensen to defensive coordinator. Shanahan also brought in fired Chargers head coach Brandon Staley to help mentor Sorensen. It did not go well, as the 49ers dropped for fourth in defensive DVOA under Wilks to 13th under Sorensen. In fairness, though, San Francisco was dealt a slew of injuries, mostly on the defensive side. Star linebacker Dre Greenlaw played in just two games, while safety Talanoa Hufanga – one of the enforcers of the defense – didn’t make his season debut until December. Nine other defenders finished the year on the injured reserve as well. Following the season finale, Shanahan decided to move on from both Sorensen and Schneider, though the head coach publicly expressed a desire to retain Sorensen as their new special teams coordinator. However, after conducting interviews with other candidates, while Sorensen did the same, both sides ultimately chose to go in different directions. That brings Sorensen to Dallas. His experience is a bit light, with just one year running his own special teams unit and coming off the worst defensive year of the Shanahan 49ers era. He’s stepping into some big shoes, as Fassel is one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL, but Sorensen does inherit the league’s best kicker in Brandon Aubrey. It’s unclear how much Sorensen’s schemes will differ from Fassel’s, who was known for an aggressive approach that favored trick plays. But his relationship with Schottenheimer – from their days in Seattle under Pete Carroll to the trying year under Meyer – should at least provide a strong level of trust moving forward with this unit.
Cowboys news: Dallas make smart move by signing Will McClay to extension
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Will McClay, Cowboys agree to multi-year contract extension for 2025 and beyond – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com One of Dallas’ critical pieces to success will be staying with the team for a while. What is arguably the biggest news of the Dallas Cowboys’ offseason has landed, and not long after the team named Brian Schottenheimer as the tenth head coach in franchise history; and this time it’s by way of a new deal being struck with Will McClay. The team’s vice president of player personnel has officially signed a multi-year contract extension that will keep him in Dallas for the foreseeable future, on a five-year deal, to be more specific, per the team’s front office. The Cowboys have enjoyed a bounty of eventual Pro Bowlers, All-Pros and future Hall of Famers who were drafted in the McClay era — e.g., DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, Dak Prescott, etc. etc. — and his influence continues to shine through each offseason. McClay’s existing contract was set to expire after the 2025 NFL Draft, but no longer. Cowboys confident new DC Matt Eberflus will ‘get the most’ out of Micah Parsons – Matt Galatzan, Sports Illustrated Matt Eberflus returning to Dallas seems to be a good sign for Micah Parsons. The Dallas Cowboys have one of the most dangerous and versatile defensive players in the NFL in Micah Parsons. In fact, since being drafted by Dallas in 2021, Parsons has been on a historic pace, sitting with 52.5 sacks in four seasons, with four Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods. Three of those seasons were spent under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who now sits as the head coach of the Washington Commanders, while Parsons also thrived under Mike Zimmer this past season. Now, a new defensive coordinator will enter the mix for the third season in a row, with the Cowboys hiring Matt Eberflus on Monday. And the Cowboys are confident that Parsons will continue to be a dominant force under his new playcaller. “Everybody’s had their own idea of versatility with [Parsons] and moving him around because he’s such a game-wrecker when he’s rolling. Getting him into situations where he can have matchups that are favorable [when] everybody’s gonna be trying to double, triple,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said at the Senior Bowl. “If you can move him around and then not know for sure where he’s gonna be, then it can be advantageous for everybody on the defense. … We’re confident [Eberflus] is going to utilize him and get the most out of him.” Dallas Cowboys announce three additions to Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff – Staff, DMN Three more signings. On Wednesday afternoon, the team announced the hiring of linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis. All three assistants will work closely with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Curtis got well-acquainted with the Cowboys in recent days after reportedly interviewing for the team’s defensive coordinator gig. He has extensive experience coaching in the NFL, recently working as the Bears’ secondary/safeties coach. Curtis and Schottenheimer worked together in Seattle from 2018-20. Borgonzi is returning to Dallas after spending the last three seasons in Chicago. He recently served as Eberflus’ linebackers coach with the Bears from 2022-24. Finally, Whitecotton is joining Schottenheimer’s staff after spending the last four seasons with the New York Jets. He coached the Jets’ defensive line during his New York stint, moving up into the role after working as an assistant defensive line coach in San Francisco and Buffalo from 2018-20. Report: Cowboys interview Cardinals OL coach Klayton Adams for their OC job – Charean Williams, PFT The staff seems to be coming together. Adams has spent he past two seasons in Arizona, arriving with head coach Jonathan Gannon. The Cardinals ranked seventh in rushing yards per game this season and eighth in rushing touchdowns. James Conner had his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. The Cowboys want an offensive coordinator who is “outstanding” in the run game. Saints head coaching search: Eagles OC Kellen Moore in the driver’s seat for job after strong interview – Jared Dubin, CBS Sports A former Cowboys coordinator now seems to be the front-runner for the Saints’ head job. The New Orleans Saints apparently have a new front-runner for their head coach opening. According to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is “in the driver’s seat” for the role after a strong in-person interview on Monday. As Jones notes, Moore will actually be in the Saints’ facilities next week because the Eagles are the designated home team in the Super Bowl, which is being played in New Orleans. However, league rules dictate that the Saints cannot contact him again until after the Super Bowl is over and his hiring could not be made official until after the game, either. Jerry Jones lashes out against critics of Cowboys’ hire of Brian Schottenheimer: ‘You’re so wrong’ – Chris Bumbaca, USA Today Jerry Jones disagrees with those criticizing the Brian Schottenheimer hire. With the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones maintained his stance of being “all in” during his first meeting with the media since parting ways with Mike McCarthy two weeks prior. Jones also used the introductory news conference Monday to respond to the idea that he would only hire somebody he could control. “I know I get my proverbial (expletive) kicked over needing people in my comfort zone. Without this thing being about me in any way, if you don’t think I can’t operate out of my comfort zone, you’re so wrong, it’s unbelievable,” Jones said. “This is as big a risk you can take, as big a risk as you can take – no head-coaching experience. “Let me share something with you. With all of that, you just heard him reference his osmosis, his family, anybody in this
Cowboys Headlines: 3 assistants added to staff, defensive star listed as ‘priority’, which Triplet is considering a coaching career?
Cowboys hire first three assistants on Schottenheimer’s staff :: The Mothership Link The organization has hired Dave Borgonzi as linebackers coach, Aaron Whitecotton as defensive line coach, and Andre Curtis as defensive passing game coordinator. Borgonzi was on staff with Dallas from 2012 to 2013 and worked under Matt Eberflus in Chicago. Whitecotton has worked for the Jets for the last four seasons. Curtis has previous ties to both Brian Schottenheimer and Eberflus. Cowboys could thrive under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. But first, they must answer a major question about their best defender, Micah Parsons. :: Yahoo Sports Link With a new coaching staff in place in Dallas, it will be more imperative than ever to get the team’s top players locked in as early as possible. There will be a lot of eyes on how the team handles Micah Parsons’s upcoming contract talks. Are the Cowboys willing to pay Parsons the money players at his position have commanded, as some of his predecessors have reset the market among non-quarterback contracts? And how will other defenders like T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett factor in with their own negotiations with their teams? Cowboys plan to make projected $100 million free agent a ‘priority’ :: SI.com Link The Cowboys reportedly want to keep Odighizuwa from hitting the open market this offseason. While Stephen Jones says getting the former third-round draft pick signed is a priority, he also needs to confer with the team’s new defensive coordinator. Odighizuwa has been projected to cash in with a $100 million contract, but whether Jones goes for that price remains to be seen. What Daryl ‘Moose’ Johnston said about Cowboys hiring Brian Schottenheimer, Matt Eberflus :: Dallas Morning News Link The three-time Super Bowl-champion fullback believes it will be “very, very challenging” for Schottenheimer to call his own plays as head coach, especially as a first-timer. “To me, I would like my head coach to be more, kind of the overseer of the entire game,” he said. As for the defense under Eberflus, Johnston says Dallas should give opponents a lot to think about with a fast and physical style of play that’s not overly complicated but fundamentally sound. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: Brian Schottenheimer is ‘tied directly to my future’ :: NFL.com Link Prescott loves the continuity that Schottenheimer will bring to the 2025 offense, and he feels it will carry over to the rest of the team. “The special teams, the defense, everybody will have the same message. You’ll be on the same accord. I think everybody will have clear job responsibilities,” Prescott said. “And from there, he will hold everybody [accountable], and not only that, he expects everybody to hold him accountable to that, to those communications.” The quarterback noted that his own contract runs the same length as Schottenheimer’s, so their futures are very much tethered to one another. Schottenheimer’s success with Cowboys hinges on one thing he can’t control :: Cowboys Wire Link The first-time coach can’t do it alone, and his success hinges just as much on the front office as it does him. The Cowboys front office will need to be more aggressive in acquiring quality talent. They simply cannot be last in free agency spending again and expect to turn their fortunes around for 2025. Restructuring some big contracts and actively working some trades could help tremendously. Report: Cowboys interview Cardinals OL coach Klayton Adams for their OC job :: ProFootballTalk Link Adams has spent the past two seasons in Arizona as offensive line coach. The Cardinals ranked seventh in rushing yards per game this season and eighth in rushing touchdowns. James Conner had his second consecutive 1,000-yard season under his unit’s protection. Dallas Cowboys interview Kevin Koger for offensive coordinator job :: On3 Link The Cowboys have also interviewed Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger for the OC job. Prior to 2024, his first year in Atlanta, Koger served the same role for the Chargers for three seasons and was an offensive quality control coach in Green Bay for two years before that. Cowboys extend contract of most important front office member of last decade :: Cowboys Wire Link As VP of player personnel, Will McClay has drafted 15 Pro Bowlers and six All-Pros since taking over the Cowboys’ scouting efforts in 2014. Last year was the last of his contract, causing some to fear he might depart for a true GM role elsewhere. After helping in the selection process that ended with Schottenheimer’s hiring, McClay was signed Wednesday to a multi-year deal that will keep him in Dallas. What do the Dallas Cowboys look for at the Senior Bowl? Here’s what Will McClay had to say :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link McClay uses the week in Mobile, Ala. to get first-hand first impressions of this year’s crop of prospects. “We’ve gathered the information, now we can put our own flavor on it and see who’s telling us the truth or not,” he explained. “It’s our job to dig and find where the warts are and where the holes are.” Also important, seeing how the players interact with NFL personnel away from their schools and protective university handlers. 2025 Pro Bowl Games: NFL participants announced for Thursday’s Skills Show, six challenges between AFC, NFC :: CBS Sports Link Several Cowboys have been selected to participate in the skills competitions making up this year’s Pro Bowl Games. KaVontae Turpin and Micah Parsons will be part of the NFC’s relay race team, while Tyler Smith and Brandon Aubrey will compete in dodgeball. Those events happen Thursday in Orlando; more games will be held Sunday before the flag football finale. Report: Former Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy to take season off to prepare for 2026 :: Cowboys Wire Link With Kellen Moore reportedly “the clubhouse leader” for the Saints’ head coaching job, McCarthy has pulled himself out of the running before even having an official interview. The 12th-winningest head coach in NFL history will reportedly take a year off to
This position is prime for Cowboys to find a rookie replacement in 2025
This position is prime for Cowboys to find a rookie replacement in 2025 reidhanson As if there wasn’t enough to do already, fans can probably add punter to the list of needs for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. Bryan Anger, the Cowboys’ punter for the past four seasons, is a free agent. The veteran is regarded as one of the best punters in the NFL, logging Pro Bowl bids in two of his four seasons in Dallas. At 36-years-old, Anger is a little long in the tooth for an NFL player, but the punter position is forgiving, and Anger has been an ironman, missing just two games in 13 seasons (both in 2019). But with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs all making significant money, the Cowboys are looking to cut costs anywhere they can. And punter looks like a fairly obvious position to target. It’s not for nothing one of Anger’s biggest advocates, John Fassel, has signed on to coach special teams in Tennessee. It’s reasonable to assume some degree of interest will be paid to Anger as Fassel builds his unit out. According to Over the Cap, Anger cost the Cowboys an APY of $3 million during his time in Dallas. That’s not going to break the bank for the Cowboys but that’s not chump change either. Much like long snapper, punter is typically a position teams can generally go cheap with. It’s important but it’s not irreplaceable. If Anger does indeed leave, the Cowboys could look to a lower cost veteran or even the free agent crop of rookie punters to fill his shoes. Punters are rarely drafted so it would most likely be a post-draft addition if Dallas went the rookie route. In that case, punters like Alabama’s James Burnip, Oklahoma’s Luke Elzinga, Florida State’s Alex Mastromanno, Florida’s Jeremy Crawshaw and South Carolina’s Kai Kroeger all look like viable options. For the first time in a long time the Cowboys may be in the punter market. Just add that to a list of their many offseason needs in 2025. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
