A Closer Look at the Cowboys’ New Defensive Coaching Trio

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy assembling the coaching team under Brian Schottenheimer. Just a day after officially naming Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator, they added three assistants to his team. Here’s what you should know about the new coaches.

Pass Game Coordinator Andre Curtis

Andre Curtis is familiar with both Schottenheimer and Eberflus. The 48-year-old coach played linebacker at Virginia Military Institute, where he crossed paths with then-defensive line coach Dan Quinn for one year before launching his coaching career at his alma mater.

Curtis entered the NFL in 2006 as a quality control coach with the Giants, where he first met Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Curtis won a Super Bowl with the Giants, during a season when Spagnuolo’s defense was dominant.

When Spagnuolo became the Rams’ head coach, he brought Curtis in as defensive backs coach. After three seasons, Spagnuolo was let go and joined the Saints as defensive coordinator, bringing Curtis along to help with the secondary.

Curtis stayed under new coordinator Rob Ryan for two more years before moving to the Seahawks to coach safeties. After Kris Richard was promoted to defensive coordinator, Curtis returned to coach the secondary and became the defensive pass game coordinator in 2020. He then moved to the Bears in 2021, working with the safeties under Eberflus. Curtis helped develop Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker into top-tier safeties. In 2023, Curtis contributed to the Bears’ third-down defensive strategies, helping them improve from 29th to 13th in 2024.

Curtis’ coaching philosophy is shaped by three respected defensive minds: Spagnuolo, Pete Carroll, and Eberflus. His success in developing young players is a major asset to Dallas.

Defensive Line Coach Aaron Whitecotton

Aaron Whitecotton’s hiring generated excitement, and it’s easy to see why. The new defensive line coach is relatively young, starting his coaching career in 2013 as a defensive quality control coach with the Jaguars. He learned under Gus Bradley, a disciple of Pete Carroll’s defensive system.

After three years, Whitecotton was promoted to assistant defensive line coach. Following Bradley’s firing, Whitecotton moved to the Bills to join Sean McDermott’s staff. He later followed Robert Saleh to the 49ers, then to the Jets, where he became a defensive line coach for the first time.

Whitecotton played a key role in developing star defensive linemen like Bryce Huff, John Franklin-Myers, and Quinnen Williams. Under Whitecotton’s guidance, the Jets’ defensive line ranked in the top 10 for pressure rate and sacks over the last three seasons.

Whitecotton’s defensive approach aligns with Eberflus’ preference for a four-man pass rush. His experience with Carroll’s scheme and his success developing linemen make him a strong addition to the Cowboys’ staff.

Linebackers Coach Dave Borgonzi

Dave Borgonzi seemed like a natural fit for the Cowboys once Eberflus was hired, having coached with him for 10 of the past 14 seasons. Borgonzi played linebacker at Amherst College before coaching at Syracuse and Harvard as a graduate assistant and defensive backs coach.

Borgonzi joined the Cowboys as a defensive assistant when Eberflus was hired as linebackers coach in 2011. He moved to the offensive side of the ball in 2013, but soon joined the Buccaneers as a defensive assistant under Lovie Smith.

When Eberflus became the Colts’ defensive coordinator in 2018, Borgonzi followed him to Indianapolis to coach linebackers. He did the same when Eberflus moved to the Bears.

Eberflus’ defense places a premium on the linebacker position, which is why Borgonzi has remained a key figure in his defensive schemes. Borgonzi has been a rising star in the coaching ranks, earning multiple interviews for coordinator positions, and his expertise will be crucial in implementing the new defensive strategies in Dallas.