The Dallas Cowboys suffered a forgettable 2024 season after a 7-10 showing where they struggled stopping opposing rushers just as much as they did running it themselves.
With a staff of 17 new assistant coaches under first-year boss Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys fans hope a new system can maximize the team's talent and health for a bounce-back campaign.
On the defensive side, Dallas hired coordinator Matt Eberflus whose scheme prides on stopping the run and playing physical.
For 'Flus, it is a reunion in Big D after he spent seven seasons with the Cowboys from 2011-2017 then was gone for seven seasons from 2018-2024.
He spoke with Cowboys writers Ed Werder and Matt Mosley about the three components that encouraged him to take this job.
"Yeah that was easy for me," Eberflus said about the decision.
"Number one, the Jones family, the familiarity with them. I love Mr. Jones, Stephen Jones and the entire family. To be able to come back and work with those guys ... I trust them, know them, have a relationship with them, and that, to me, was number one."
His second point, with Eberflus notoriously a defensive genius, might raise some eyebrows.
"Secondly ... really to me it was Dak Prescott," he said.
Eberflus recalled when he was still on the staff and Dallas drafted Prescott in the fourth round, then took the league by storm, guiding the Cowboys to an 11-1 start.
"I know what's inside his heart and what kind of man he is and what kind of leader he is. So to me, that was a slam dunk."
Eberflus was first in conversations with the Cowboys before Schottenheimer was officially hired. But when that deal became official, it was the cherry on top.
He mentioned that he had talked to friends who knew Schotty and he is "a great football mind, a great guy, and great leader".
"I was all in at that point," Eberflus said.
"It's exciting," he continued. "It's exciting for me to be back - basically almost back home."
Schottenheimer and his staff quickly won over the minds of Cowboys Nation who were skeptical of his hiring at first.
The next test for Schotty and 'Flus will be winning football games in order to win over fans' hearts.
