Cowboys Rebuild Defense After 7-9 Season

The Dallas Cowboys are aggressively rebuilding their defense this offseason, following a dismal 2025 season that left the team with a 7-9 record and no playoff berth. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has openly criticized the unit's performance, stating that even modest improvements could have propelled the squad into the postseason.

Last year marked a low point for Dallas, which ranked 30th in total defense and surrendered a league-high 511 points, along with 59 touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL behind only the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cowboys also recorded the fewest interceptions in franchise history and managed just 35 sacks, a sharp decline exacerbated by the preseason trade of star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks. That move, executed one week before the regular season opener, gutted the front seven and contributed to consistent breakdowns, including missed tackles and exploitable gaps in coverage.

Under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the offense provided bright spots, with quarterback Dak Prescott starting all 17 games after missing much of 2024 due to injury. Prescott orchestrated an explosive attack...