By Blessing 
The Cowboys’ Divisional Round exit from the playoffs left fans in dismay, as the NFC Championship Game will now feature an all-NFC East showdown between the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles. For Cowboys faithful, the matchup feels like salt in the wound.
This game pits Dan Quinn, Washington’s head coach, against Kellen Moore, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, with a Super Bowl berth on the line. It’s a nightmare scenario for Cowboys fans: either their bitter rivals, the Eagles, will make their third Super Bowl appearance in eight years, or Quinn, a former Cowboys defensive coordinator, will take Washington to the big game in his debut season with a rookie quarterback at the helm.
As if that weren’t enough, the Cowboys are currently without a head coach after parting ways with Mike McCarthy. The team stumbled out of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion, leaving fans frustrated and concerned about the future. Speculation has been swirling that Jerry Jones may exert his influence on the coaching staff, potentially forcing assistants like Jason Witten onto whoever takes the reins.
A new rumor has now surfaced, one that’s bound to stir mixed reactions among the fanbase.
A Familiar Name Could Return to Dallas
Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan recently shared that there’s a possibility Matt Eberflus could rejoin the Cowboys. Eberflus, who previously served as the team’s linebackers coach from 2011 to 2017, is currently available after being fired by the Chicago Bears.
Eberflus’ tenure as the Bears’ head coach ended in disaster, highlighted by a Thanksgiving game that featured some of the worst clock management in recent memory. That blunder ultimately sealed his fate, though it appears he had already lost the locker room. In three seasons, Eberflus compiled a disappointing 14-32 record, and as of now, there’s been no buzz about him landing a head coaching or coordinator job this offseason.
While his time in Chicago left much to be desired, Eberflus’ coaching résumé before that was impressive. As the Colts’ defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021, he helped guide the defense to top-10 finishes in points allowed during three of his four seasons. The Colts also excelled in takeaways and stopping the run under his leadership, ranking top five in takeaways in 2020 and 2021.
This track record suggests Eberflus could still be a valuable defensive mind, even if his head coaching stint didn’t pan out. If Brian Schottenheimer is indeed in consideration for a bigger role, as rumors suggest, adding Eberflus to the staff might complement the team’s needs. He could potentially return to his old role coaching linebackers, where he found success in Dallas earlier in his career.
What’s Next for the Cowboys?
Though nothing is confirmed, Bobby Belt’s report indicates that discussions about Eberflus’ return are taking place within the organization. His connection to the team and defensive pedigree could make him a natural fit for Dallas, even if some fans are skeptical given his recent struggles.
For now, it’s another storyline to monitor as the Cowboys look to rebound and rebuild their coaching staff in hopes of finally getting over the playoff hump.