The Cowboys’ search for their next defensive coordinator has expanded to include two new candidates.
The team requested an interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr (via Clarence Hill of DLLS Sports). They will also interview their current defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Orr, 33, succeeded Mike Macdonald as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2024. The unit regressed at the beginning of his debut season, but moving Kyle Hamilton back to a traditional safety role and inserting Ar’Darius Washington into the starting lineup stabilized the secondary. This past season, Baltimore’s defense had another rough start with an especially weak pass rush. Another round of midseason adjustments – including trades for Alohi Gilman and Dre’Mont Jones – yielded some results, but they did not last through the end of the season.
Despite his shaky results, Orr’s connection to Macdonald and John Harbaugh is one reason that other teams may be interested. He may also be a free agent in the coming weeks. The Ravens are currently looking for a new head coach after firing Harbaugh, and their eventual hire may not retain Orr in his current job.
Whitecotton has spent the last 13 years coaching in the NFL with the last eight as a defensive line coach for the Bills (assistant), 49ers (assistant), Jets, and Cowboys. Despite the additions of Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams to Dallas’ defensive line, the unit (and the defense as a whole) still struggled in 2025. Whitecotton’s familiarity with those key players, however, could upgrade his candidacy in the eyes of the team.