The Dallas Cowboys are making progress in their search for a new defensive coordinator, scheduling in-person interviews with multiple candidates in the coming days.
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is set to visit The Star next week for an in-person interview, two people familiar with the team’s thinking confirmed to The Dallas Morning News. The team is also bringing in Minnesota Vikings pass game coordinator Daronte Jones for an in-person interview on Saturday.
Additionally, the team plans to set up an in-person interview with Eagles pass game coordinator Christian Parker.
Gannon, whom the Cowboys completed a virtual interview with on Tuesday, spent three seasons as the head coach of the Cardinals, going 15-36 in that span. Before that, he was the DC for two seasons with the Eagles.
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Gannon has experience in the division and has experience with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who coached under Gannon in Arizona before the Cowboys hired Adams last season.
Jones, who would become the first candidate to reach the in-person interview stage, completed a virtual interview last Friday.
He broke through for his first NFL job in 2016 as the Dolphins’ assistant defensive backs coach. Since then, he was a defensive assistant for the Bengals from 2018-19, the Vikings in 2020, then spent the 2021 season as LSU’s defensive coordinator before returning to Minnesota’s staff in 2022 as a defensive backs coach.
When Brian Flores arrived in Minnesota in 2023, Jones’ title changed to defensive pass game coordinator. Flores has helped transform the Vikings’ defense into one of the league’s best, and Jones has been a key part of that transformation.
Parker, who met with the team virtually this week, has been on Philadelphia’s staff for two seasons, handling a pivotal role alongside defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
All three candidates have expertise in coaching defensive backs.
Staff Writers Calvin Watkins and Joseph Hoyt contributed to this report.
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