Out of nine known candidates the Dallas Cowboys are interviewing for their defensive coordinator opening, three are getting one step closer to landing the gig—and more could follow.
That’s because the Cowboys are going from virtual interviews to an in-person format with three of their candidates headed to The Star in Frisco, Texas starting on Saturday. And notably, the three coaches happen to share a common theme.
3 candidates ready for in-person interviews
According to multiple reports, the Cowboys are conducting in-person interviews with the following candidates:
- Daronte Jones, Vikings pass game coordinator (Saturday, per ESPN’s Todd Archer).
- Jonathan Gannon, former Cardinals head coach (early next week, per ESPN’s Todd Archer).
- Christian Parker, Eagles pass game coordinator (per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler).
More names could emerge in the coming days but with these being the initial names slated for a second interview with the Cowboys, it strongly suggests they’re among the leading candidates. Another name to watch is Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, though he can’t be interviewed in-person until Denver either is eliminated or plays in the Super Bowl. The Broncos host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
Jones, Gannon, and Parker all share a common background: They specialize in coaching defensive backs.
Jones and Parker are currently pass game coordinators in addition to coaching their respective secondaries, and Gannon’s rise earlier in his career was through a similar path. He coached defensive backs with the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings before becoming defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Earlier in the week, I wrote about how many of the Cowboys’ options (beyond this group of three) for DC had defensive backs experience. The Cowboys have been self-admittedly concerned about their secondary and view it as a priority from a personnel standpoint.
Among the three coaches mentioned above, Gannon’s advantage could lie in the fact that he has head coaching experience, something the front office has shown time and time again it values. Yet, he also checks Brian Schottenheimer’s wishes of being young and having more of a modern defense.
However, Parker and Jones’ resumes are already impressive despite no prior DC experience. The Cowboys’ search this year has been much more promising than in years past. For now, we wait a little longer to learn who will be the hire.
