Cowboys Face Uphill Battle in Defensive Coordinator Search as Zach Orr Likely Bound for Giants
For the fourth straight offseason, the Dallas Cowboys are on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator - a carousel that’s spinning faster than anyone in the building would like. This time, the front office set its sights on a bold, younger candidate: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr. But it looks like that pursuit may already be slipping through their fingers.
According to reports, Orr is expected to follow his former head coach, John Harbaugh, to New York, where Harbaugh is assembling his new staff with the Giants. That’s a gut punch for Dallas, who just submitted an interview request for Orr. If he does land in the NFC East - just not in Dallas - the Cowboys could be facing him twice a year instead of handing him a headset.
Now, going after Orr was a notable departure from the Cowboys’ usual approach. Dallas hasn’t hired a defensive coordinator under the age of 40 since Dave Wannstedt in 1989.
Orr, at just 33, would’ve been a major shift from the norm - a sign that Jerry Jones and company might be ready to think outside the box. That kind of risk-taking could’ve brought some much-needed energy and innovation to a unit that’s been searching for stability.
But there’s another side to the Orr conversation. While his age and potential are intriguing, the results in Baltimore last season were mixed at best.
In his second year as DC, the Ravens' defense took a noticeable step back. They allowed the third-most passing yards per game (247.9) and finished 18th in points allowed (23.4 per game).
Baltimore’s defense, which had long been one of the league’s most feared units, started slow and only found its footing late in the season - too late to salvage a playoff push.
So while the Cowboys were clearly interested in Orr’s upside, there’s an argument to be made that his résumé isn’t quite ready to carry the weight of a franchise like Dallas - especially one that’s been in a holding pattern on the defensive side of the ball.
What the Cowboys need right now isn’t just a DC with potential. They need someone who can provide consistency - something they’ve lacked for nearly half a decade.
This will be the fourth defensive coordinator in as many years, and that kind of turnover has a real cost. Continuity matters, especially when you're trying to build a championship-caliber defense in a division that’s only getting tougher.
With Orr likely off the table, Dallas is reportedly keeping a close eye on other candidates. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is a name that continues to generate buzz - and for good reason.
Flores brings a hard-nosed, aggressive style that could fit well with the Cowboys’ personnel. Other names in the mix include Christian Parker, DeMarcus Covington, Charlie Bullen, Jim Leonhard, Jonathan Gannon, Daronte Jones, Aaron Whitecotton, and Ephraim Banda.
The clock is ticking. Coaching vacancies are filling up fast, and if the Cowboys want to land the right candidate - not just any candidate - they’ll need to move quickly.
This hire isn’t just about 2026. It’s about bringing long-term vision and stability to a defense that’s been stuck in transition for far too long.