Cowboys, Commanders staff first-time defensive coordinators

Both added veteran aides last week amid early struggles

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Both teams hired first-time defensive coordinators in the offseason. Via @WerderEdNFL on X

What happened: Dallas and Washington entered 2026 with first-time play-callers on defense. Both clubs added veteran defensive coaches last week to support those staffs.

Why it matters: Dallas sits 2-3 after a Week 5 loss to Tampa Bay, raising pressure for improvement on that side of the ball. Washington made a parallel move for experience, indicating both NFC East teams sought steadier execution without changing play-callers.

By the numbers: Dallas: 2-3 through Week 5.

What to watch: The test is whether the veteran additions stabilize execution before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.

Sources

@WerderEdNFL 2026-10-21T19:45:05.717577+00:00

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