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The latest news and notes around the Dallas Cowboys
Malik Hooker reunites with his former defensive coordinator, who drafted him with the Indianapolis Colts
Eberflus, who spent several years as an assistant in Dallas, went on to become a well-respected defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts. He parlayed his success there into a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears.
Now back in a coordinator role, Eberflus is not only returning to Dallas, but he’s also being reunited with safety Malik Hooker. The two worked together in Indianapolis, and Hooker is excited to work with Eberflus again, saying he can take them to the next level.
“Man, I’m excited, I’m excited,” Hooker told Law Thomas of Law Nation Sports. “Obviously, when I first got drafted in Indianapolis, that was my D coordinator there, and we already got a strong relationship. And I know the type of coach he is. He knows the type of player I am.” He later added, “This defense that we got and the talent we got, he’s capable of taking us to the next level.”
Hooker also said that while Eberflus had talent in Indianapolis, the Cowboys have “talent at every level.”
Thomas echoed that belief, saying he spoke with Eberflus earlier in the offseason and the coach was “smiling from ear to ear” while claiming this was one of the most talented teams that he’s ever coached.
Will Matt Eberflus have the Dallas Cowboys defense looking like it did under Dan Quinn or Mike Zimmer?
Tommy: The one thing that you’ll know you’re getting out of a Matt Eberflus defense is takeaways. In the seven years he’s been a defensive playcaller, only one time in his career has a defensive unit he’s coached finished outside the top 10 in takeaways, and the one time they didn’t, the still finished in the top half of the league at 14th. It’ll also be a unit that, if all things are going right, will be able to stop the run. Eberflus’ defenses have been top 10 units in five of his seven seasons as a defensive play caller, but they finished 31st and 28th in 2022 and 2024 respectively. They finished 1st in 2023, so Eberflus has shown he can make the leap from worst to first in the category but has a new team to work with in Dallas.
One thing I think we’ll see that’s a bit more uncharacteristic of Eberflus’ defenses in the past is an increase in getting after the quarterback. The Cowboys pass rush unit is incredibly deep, and bringing the heat on opposing quarterbacks is a great way to force even more turnovers for your team, something that Eberflus will be sure to contribute to this unit.
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