PFN ranking all 32 defensive coordinators 2025

Hawkeye0202

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This is way too low for Eberflus IMO..........no, he is not top 10, but def top 15.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-defensive-coordinator-rankings-2025/

Ranking All 32 NFL Defensive Coordinators Before the 2025 Season: Vic Fangio Climbs and Robert Saleh Returns

NFL defenses have never been more forward-thinking than in 2025. While the league is still driven by offense, defensive coordinators have started dictating the action rather than waiting to react. That means deciding when to send extra pass rushers, determining how to disguise coverages both before and after the snap, and planning for potential roster contingencies.

Who are the best defensive minds in the NFL? Let’s rank every defensive coordinator in the league going into the 2025-26 season.


18) Matt Eberflus, Dallas Cowboys​

Coming off a disastrous run as the head coach in Chicago, Matt Eberflus finds himself returning to the defensive coordinator ranks. While his teams disappointed, his defenses were just fine.

Eberflus’ Bears defense finished 13th in Defense+ last season. Just two years ago, his defense led the NFL with the lowest rushing yards allowed and was first with 22 interceptions. With the Dallas Cowboys, he could resurrect his NFL reputation working with the likes of Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland.
 
It is interesting how Pro Football Network ranks the other four first-year defensive coordinators in relation to Matt Eberflus' #18 designation:

Robert Salah (#6 / 49ers)
Steve Wilks (#12 / Jets)
Dennis Allen (#13 / Bears)
Al Golden (#14 / Bengals)

Seriously, how do they justify Golden's NFL ranking based on what he did at the collegiate level with Notre Dame?
 
A defensive coordinator’s success is largely dependent on the talent they have to work with. It seems clear whoever did these rankings does not have a super high opinion of the defensive talent we have.

This ranking says more about what Pro Football Network thinks about the Cowboys overall defensive talent than Eberflus. Before a season starts, new coordinators are usually ranked based on the perceived talent of a team.
 
This ranking says more about what Pro Football Network thinks about the Cowboys overall defensive talent than Eberflus. Before a season starts, new coordinators are usually ranked based on the perceived talent of a team.
Exactly why I think 19 is too low.......hell, there are at least 3-4 teams listed ahead of us makes no sense at all IMO. I would take our entire D over them right now........lol
 
Exactly why I think 19 is too low.......hell, there are at least 3-4 teams listed ahead of us makes no sense at all IMO. I would take our entire D over them right now........lol
It may be. But our defense on paper doesn’t look much better than mediocre. Last year’s defense was ranked 31st in overall defensive stats so it’s not like this team is building on something good.
 
Interesting that 7 of the top 11 run 3-4 as their base DEF
 
Please hurry 2025 season. These off season ratings are so stupid I can't hardly stand them and none of them mean anything. And the purveyors of such are probably the guys that got stuffed into lockers in school. And they get their info off of lists of other victims of locker stuffing.

Don't want to be ranked low on a list? Make it impossible to be ranked low by being great at what the ranking involves.
 
I can't see how Eberflus would not be No. 1. Clearly there's some bias there.
 
Before I even opened this I knew I would see "TOO LOW' instantly.

The Cowboys have top half of the NFL everything. It's just the refs fault they never win I suppose.
 
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 buthas 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.

Where Quinn's defenses focused on turnovers and pressure off the edge, Eberflus' unit will rely on sure tackling and interior pressure from the three-technique and linebackers to speed up the quarterback. This doesn't mean there won't be help from Micah Parsons and other edge rushers. Just expect some more flair from guys like Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas. This should allow the linebackers to run free and swarm the football, focusing on the tackling elements to avoid the big play.

With Eberflus, you'll see mostly three linebackers when they're in the base defense.
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/14-what-does-eberflus-defense-look-
 
It is interesting how Pro Football Network ranks the other four first-year defensive coordinators in relation to Matt Eberflus' #18 designation:

Robert Salah (#6 / 49ers)
Steve Wilks (#12 / Jets)
Dennis Allen (#13 / Bears)
Al Golden (#14 / Bengals)

Seriously, how do they justify Golden's NFL ranking based on what he did at the collegiate level with Notre Dame?

Steve Wilks woukd have been my choice in Dallas .
 
A defensive coordinator’s success is largely dependent on the talent they have to work with. It seems clear whoever did these rankings does not have a super high opinion of the defensive talent we have.

This ranking says more about what Pro Football Network thinks about the Cowboys overall defensive talent than Eberflus. Before a season starts, new coordinators are usually ranked based on the perceived talent of a team.

They are ranking the coordinators, not the 2025 defenses themselves.

From the article:
Who are the best defensive minds in the NFL?
 
A defensive coordinator’s success is largely dependent on the talent they have to work with. It seems clear whoever did these rankings does not have a super high opinion of the defensive talent we have.

This ranking says more about what Pro Football Network thinks about the Cowboys overall defensive talent than Eberflus. Before a season starts, new coordinators are usually ranked based on the perceived talent of a team.
I would argue, that any coach's success, should be dependent on the talent that he doesn't have....many coaches are great at using their talent and Xs and Os, getting you players to play, above and beyond makes a coach, special.
 

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