Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus to Call Plays from Booth Amid Hot Seat Buzz

Amid a disappointing first year as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, Matt Eberflus is making a change.

Eberflus told reporters on Thursday that he and Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer decided it would be best for him to move from the sideline up to the booth to call plays for the final three games of the season.

"I've done it before, it's been a while, but it's going to be a good adjustment," Eberflus said.

At 6-7-1, Dallas is still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the NFC, but the team's defense has not helped the cause over the past few weeks. The Cowboys had their three-game win streak come to an end with a 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions, followed by a 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday.

Eberflus' unit ranks 29th in the NFL with 374.9 yards allowed per game and 31st with 30.0 points allowed per game. The former Chicago Bears head coach was expected to turn around Dallas' disappointing defense, but the team has actually regressed even further, as it gave up 355.2 yards and 27.5 points per game in 2024.

To make matters worse, it appears that there's drama brewing between the Cowboys and star cornerback Trevon Diggs. ESPN's Todd Archer reported that Diggs was expected to return from a two-month absence due to a concussion and a knee injury against the Vikings, but he was told he would remain inactive. The two-time Pro Bowler admitted that he was "upset" about the team's decision.

Eberflus and company will have to figure things out quickly, as Dallas will be facing a tough test on Sunday against a 10-4 Los Angeles Chargers team that has won each of its last three games.