The Dallas Cowboys hit the reset button again, firing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, after a 7-9-1 finish and a second straight trip to the couch in January. One season. One (very loud) collapse. And now Dallas is shopping for its fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons, because apparently stability is for other franchises.

Eberflus was brought in after Brian Schottenheimer took over as head coach, with the mission statement basically tattooed on the facility wall: fix a defense that was already bleeding points and yards. Instead, it got worse — and not in a “bad breaks” way. In a “what exactly are we trying to be?” way.

That question isn’t coming from the outside only. On 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones admitted the quiet part out loud: “We got to get an identity on the defensive side of the football. I don’t think we ever established what we were as a defense.” He wasn’t done, either, adding, “Bottom line, we need an identity… we have to create an identity.” That’s not a scheme note. That’s an organizational siren.

And the on-field receipts were brutal. Dallas finished last in points allowed at 29.8 per game and sat 30th in yards allowed at 376.8 per game. The takeaways never came (28th in turnovers created), the pass rush didn’t consistently land (22nd in sacks), and explosive plays showed up like they had a season ticket.

This was supposed to be the year Dallas hardened up. They traded Micah Parsons before Week 1 — a seismic move — and tried to patch the front with Kenny Clark plus extra first-rounders. Then they doubled down later by adding Quinnen Williams at the deadline. The intent was clear: stop the run, control the middle, and build something physical. The result? A defense that still didn’t dictate anything.

Eberflus even moved up to the coaches’ booth for the final three games, with Jerry Jones publicly evaluating him down the stretch. Dallas responded by giving up 30+ points in two of those three. That’s not a closing argument — that’s a resignation letter.

Now the Cowboys have to find a coordinator who can do more than call coverages. They need someone who can install a personality, teach details, and make Sunday feel less like roulette. Because if 2026 becomes another “identity search,” this cycle won’t stop here.