Dallas Cowboys Make Announcement on New Defensive Coordinator Position After NFL's Major Final Decision.

Dallas, Texas – December 27, 2025

If the Dallas Cowboys truly want to correct what has pushed them out of the playoffs for a second straight year, the solution may not be another schematic overhaul — but bringing the right person back into the right role.

The Cowboys’ biggest mistake of the 2025–26 season wasn’t simply hiring Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator. The deeper error was letting Al Harris walk away — the quiet cornerstone who helped build Dallas’ secondary for years.

Dallas’ defense regressed noticeably this season. A lack of identity, inconsistency, and late-game breakdowns became recurring themes. Meanwhile, Eberflus spent much of the year on the hot seat, and each public expression of frustration from Jerry Jones only underscored that the franchise is approaching yet another coaching crossroads — potentially its fourth defensive reset in four years.

The problem is simple: the Cowboys already had the answer — and let it slip away.

In Chicago, Al Harris is doing exactly what he once did in Dallas: turning defensive backs into true ballhawks. Under Harris, players like Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland led the NFL in interceptions during their time with the Cowboys. Now with the Bears, Nahshon Wright is playing the best football of his career — a continuation that’s anything but coincidence.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson recently praised Harris’ impact publicly, emphasizing that wherever Harris goes, turnovers follow. That wasn’t a courtesy compliment — it was a professional endorsement.

Harris once held the title of assistant head coach in Dallas. But instability surrounding the coaching staff, particularly during the transitional period, pushed him toward a more stable situation. The move may have been lateral in title, but it was a step forward in influence.

Now, with Brian Schottenheimer shaping a new framework, the Cowboys have a chance to correct course — if they’re willing to act decisively. Bringing Al Harris back, this time as defensive coordinator, wouldn’t be a patch. It would be a restoration of identity.

The Cowboys don’t need another experiment. They need certainty. And Al Harris isn’t a sentimental choice — he’s a proven solution.

If Dallas is serious about returning to the top of the NFC, the most important call Jerry Jones makes this offseason won’t be to a free agent — but to the coach they never should have let leave.