The Cowboys are expanding their defensive coordinator search beyond rising assistants and into the ranks of former NFL head coaches. Dallas has scheduled interviews this week that reflect a desire for both experience and stability as it reshapes a defense that never fully found its footing.
Jonathan Gannon Enters Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Search
Dallas Morning News Cowboys beat writer Joseph Hoyt reported that the Cowboys will interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon for their vacant defensive coordinator job. Hoyt also reported that former Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr will be part of the same round of interviews.
Gannon is the most accomplished name Dallas has added to the process so far. While his head-coaching tenure in Arizona ended quickly, his defensive résumé remains strong. He was the architect of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl defense in 2022, where his unit combined pressure, disguise, and coverage versatility into one of the league’s most effective groups.
The #Cowboys are scheduled to interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon for their open DC position, per source.
They will also interview former Ravens DC Zach Orr, a DeSoto and UNT product.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) January 12, 2026
Orr represents a different profile. The former NFL linebacker rose rapidly through Baltimore’s coaching ranks and took over a Ravens defense that was forced to navigate major injuries and roster turnover. The Ravens ranked 18th in PFSN’s DEFi. Despite the uneven results, his work with linebackers and coverage concepts has kept him firmly on the radar as a potential coordinator.
Just 33 years old, Orr represents the type of potential young-up-and-coming coordinator that teams covet. Since the Ravens fired John Harbaugh, it is unlikely Orr would return to the Ravens in his same role.
Dallas Launches Widespread Search for New DC
Gannon and Orr join a group of candidates that already includes Jim Leonhard (Broncos), Daronte Jones (Vikings), and Ephraim Banda (Browns), all of whom interviewed last week. The Cowboys are also expected to speak with their own defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton, giving them an internal option focused on continuity.
Whitecotton’s candidacy reflects what owner Jerry Jones has emphasized about the team’s defense: that it has lacked stability. Dallas’ defensive front was one of the few areas that consistently held up, and Whitecotton has been credited internally for developing that group.
Gannon brings something different. Even with a short head-coaching stint, he has experience running an entire program and installing a complete defensive system. Orr offers upside and development, a younger coach who could grow alongside the roster if given time.
By casting such a wide net, the Cowboys are signaling that this decision will determine the tone, scheme, and leadership of their defense moving forward.
