The Dallas Cowboys’ season began in disarray, and it looks like they’re headed for another offseason of dysfunction. The team’s Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers highlighted a particular issue the team needs to address: Dreadful defense.
Everything started last offseason with the search for a new head coach, during which the Cowboys considered keeping Mike McCarthy before ultimately deciding to move on. They hired Brian Schottenheimer, who then hired Matt Eberflus as his defensive coordinator. The fire is on Eberflus now.
The Dallas Cowboys’ Defense Is Not Defending Enough
The last time the world saw Eberflus, he was botching the clock on Thanksgiving Day last season against the Detroit Lions as the Head Coach of the Chicago Bears.
Of course, his job got significantly harder before he could see his team on the field with Jerry Jones trading Micah Parsons, mere days before the regular season began. Predictably, without the dominant pass rush that Parsons provided for four years in Dallas, their defense plummeted to the bottom of the NFL.
Dallas has made some improvements since the trade deadline, notably with the acquisition of Quinnen Williams, but their defense remains subpar. With Dallas essentially needing a miracle to reach the postseason, they will not be playing for draft position.
With tanking not on the horizon, fans and media alike are starting to call for Eberflus to be one-and-done in Dallas. “Fire Matt Eberflus,” Tom Downey wrote.
Fire Matt Eberflus pic.twitter.com/Lg4gCRHQ70
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) December 21, 2025
Eberflus’ defense entered Week 16 ranked in the middle of the pack against the run, which was a point of emphasis following the Parsons trade, as noted by Jones. “We hadn’t been able to win the big games in the playoffs, and we think it is a direct connection to not being able to stop the run,” he said.
That’s not stopping fans from being upset, as they claim Eberflus is a horrible defensive play-caller.
Fans Want Matt Eberflus Fired
One fan expressed his disappointment on X, writing, “Matt Eberflus is a horrendous defensive play caller. Fire this clown Jerry!”
Matt Eberflus is a horrendous defensive play caller. Fire this clown Jerry!
— Ultra MAGA Rebel (@RoscoP2345) December 21, 2025
Another fan was not willing to show some patience. Instead of firing Eberflus after the game, one fan suggested the Cowboys dismiss him at halftime after the Chargers piled up 21 points in the first half.
“Hey Jerry Jones, can you please fire Matt Eberflus at halftime? Thanks,” said the fan.
Hey Jerry Jones,
Can you please fire Matt Eberflus at halftime.
Thanks.
— Brian (@KoZmoh) December 21, 2025
Showing a bit more patience, another fan suggested the Cowboys ensure that Eberflus had a new job by the end of Sunday’s game against the Chargers. “Matt Eberflus should be fired by the end of this game,” said the fan.
Matt Eberflus should be fired by the end of this game
— gue_ss (@gue_sss2) December 21, 2025
Of course, some of the blame for Dallas’ defense falls on Eberflus, whose job is to scheme up ways to affect opposing passers, even with Parsons being shipped off to Green Bay.
With Dallas at the bottom of the league in major defensive categories and likely to miss the playoffs, all eyes will turn to Eberflus once Dallas’ season ultimately ends. It’s safe to say the fan frustration has boiled over.
