NFL News: Matt Eberflus Hired as Cowboys DC Under Schottenheimer after Bears Firing

Brian Schottenheimer has brought a former head coach onto his Dallas Cowboys staff.

Former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was announced as Dallas' defensive coordinator on Tuesday after Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Monday that he was expected to be hired to the position.

ESPN's Ed Werder previously reported on Sunday that Eberflus was "likely" to be named the team's defensive coordinator.

Werder also noted that Mike Zimmer, who was the Cowboys' defensive coordinator this season, is not returning to Dallas and will likely retire.

Eberflus was the Cowboys linebackers coach from 2011 to 2017 and also spent two seasons as the team's passing game coordinator. After a three-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts as defensive coordinator, he became the Bears head coach in 2022.

Chicago, which didn't make the postseason in Eberflus' first two years, got off to a solid 4-2 start behind strong play from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears quickly collapsed, however, losing six consecutive games leading up to Eberflus' firing.

While his tenure as a head coach wasn't very successful, Eberflus proved himself as one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL when he was with the Colts. During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Colts ranked in the top ten in scoring, run defense and takeaways.

Eberflus will look to have similar success in Dallas, and with a star in Micah Parsons leading his defense, the job will be made much easier.

The Cowboys are looking to finally assemble a staff that can take them deep in the playoffs and snap an ugly NFC Championship game drought. Dallas found success in former coach Mike McCarthy, making the playoffs three times, but its best finish was a divisional-round appearance in 2022.

Though Schottenheimer has no prior experience as a head coach, he proved himself to the Cowboys' front office with his performance as an offensive coordinator and he'll look to have more success in his new role.