Daronte Jones, Ephraim Banda, Jim Leonhard to interview for Cowboys defensive coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys are set to conduct interviews with three candidates for their defensive coordinator position. Scheduled for Friday are interviews with Daronte Jones, the Vikings' defensive pass game coordinator, and Ephraim Banda, the Browns' safeties coach. Jim Leonhard, the Broncos' defensive pass game coordinator, is slated for an interview on Saturday. Unlike previous Cowboys defensive coordinators such as Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer, and Matt Eberflus, none of these candidates have prior NFL head coaching experience. Leonhard, however, served as the interim head coach at the University of Wisconsin in 2022, achieving a 4-3 record. Additionally, none of the candidates have held an NFL defensive coordinator position before, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has stated that such experience is not a requirement for the role.