The Dallas Cowboys are set to add one of the most respected defensive coordinators at the college level, according to reports this morning.

SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons, who was set to enter his sixth season leading the Mustangs defense this fall, is leaving for an opportunity to coach the inside linebackers for the Dallas Cowboys, according to multiple outlets.

Symons has been at Rhett Lashlee’s side since 2022, previously coordinating the defense at Liberty from 2019-21.

He has also held coordinator titles at the small college level as well at Harding (D-II – AR) as co-defensive coordinator, as well as defensive play caller stops at Arkansas Tech (D-II) and West Georgia (D-II). 

Symons spent the 2018 season coaching the linebackers at Memphis before being plucked to call the defense at Liberty heading into the 2019 season.

A Broyles Award nominee each of the last three seasons at SMU, including a semifinalist for the award following the 2024 season, Symons has helped the program to a College Football Playoff appearance as well as 31 wins over the last three seasons.

The chance to coac with the Cowboys will mark his first opportunity at the NFL level. 

Scott Symons enters his fifth season on the Hilltop in 2026, continuing his role as the defensive coordinator.

Symons was hired as SMU’s Defensive Coordinator in December 2021 after spending three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Liberty, while also working with safeties and linebackers.

SMU’s defense continued its opportunistic ways in 2025, ranking in the top 25 in several categories, including turnovers gained (fifth), red zone defense (fifth), passes intercepted (eighth), defensive touchdowns (10th), fumbles recovered (11th), turnover margin (14th), 4th down conversion percentage (18th), rushing defense (19th) and sacks (23rd).

Seniors Ahmaad Moses and Isaiah Smith powered the defensive unit, with both earning All-America accolades. Moses was a fourth-team selection by Phil Steele and Smith garnered honorable mention honors. It marked the third straight season that Symons had one of his defensive players earn All-America honors.

The Mustangs had six players earn All-ACC honors on defense for the year, with Moses a first-team selection and Smith making the second team.

Jeffrey M’ba, Terry Webb, Isaiah Nwokobia and Deuce Harmon earned honorable mention honors from the conference. Symons’ defense was once again able to get after the quarterback, recording 34 sacks on the season, the third straight season over 30. 

Moses had his best year in 2025 under Symons’ watch, finishing with career highs in tackles (104), interceptions (5) and fumbles recovered (2). The success of the playmaking safety led to him being named a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

SMU’s defense kept teams out of the end zone, finishing third in the ACC in scoring defense, and had eight games holding the opposition to under 20 points.

Symons’ defense helped the Mustangs reach new heights in 2024, advancing to the program’s first CFP berth along with an undefeated mark in the first season in the ACC.

SMU became the first team to go 8-0 in conference play after moving to a Power 4/5 conference from a Group of Five conference. The 2024 season also marked the first time the Mustangs went undefeated and united in conference play in back-to-back seasons.

The Mustangs were elite defensively once again in 2024. For the second straight season, they finished in the top five in defensive touchdowns with four. The mark was also the best in the ACC. SMU posted the second-best rushing defense in program history, allowing just 100.2 yards per game on the ground. The mark was good for seventh best in the FBS and tops in the conference.

Under Symons, the Mustang defense got to the quarterback at a high clip again in 2024, earning 43 sacks, the third most in program history.

Symons’ defense was elite in all three facets during the historic season, ranking in the top 25 in the FBS in multiple different categories including: defensive touchdowns (5th, 4), rushing defense (7th, 100.2), team sacks (10th, 3.07), passes intercepted (14th, 16), fourth down conversion pct. defense (17th, .415), tackles for loss (17th, 7.1), third down conversion pct. defense (19th, .330) and red zone defense (25th, .767).

Thanks to the success during the season, Symons was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Broyles Award.