Matt Eberflus joined the Dallas Cowboys on January 26, 2011 as the club's linebackers coach. Eberflus, who will begin his third season coaching in the NFL, comes to Dallas after spending the previous two seasons as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach. He spent 17 years prior to that coaching in the collegiate ranks. In Dallas, Eberflus will again be working with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, with whom he worked under with the Browns.
In 2010 Eberflus led the charges of the Browns linebacking corps that had four of its starters (ILB Eric Barton, 12 starts; ILB Scott Fujita, nine starts; ILB Chris Gocong, 16 starts; OLB Matt Roth, 16 starts) finish in the top-10 in tackles. Additionally, linebacker David Bowens became the second player in Browns history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single game (at New Orleans, 10/24).
In his first season with the Browns, Eberflus guided a unit through a solid season despite the loss of both starting inside linebackers due to injury by the season's midpoint. Under Eberflus' guidance, linebacker Bowens made a successful transition from an outside spot to the inside, finishing with a career-best 71 tackles, with 5.5 sacks - the third-highest sack figure of his career. With the injuries to his inside starters, Eberflus worked third-year backer Jason Trusnik into a starting role. Trusnik, acquired five weeks into the season, went on to make the first 10 starts of his career and tallied 54 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Prior to entering the pro ranks, Eberflus coached at the University of Missouri (2001-08). He came to Missouri as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2001 and became the associate head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties coach in 2006. While with Missouri, Eberflus guided the Tigers defense to the Big 12 North Division title in 2007 and 2008, compiling a 22-6 record over that span. Not being limited to his role with the defense, Eberflus helped recruit All-American quarterback Brad Smith and wide receiver Sean Coffey while also landing defensive back William Moore and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.
Before arriving in Missouri, Eberflus spent nine years (1992-2000) at his alma mater, the University of Toledo. He served as a student assistant coach in 1992, then as a graduate assistant in 1993 before landing a full-time spot in 1994 as recruiting coordinator/outside linebackers coach. He held that position for two seasons before concentrating solely on the outside linebackers for two more seasons (1996-98). For his last two years at Toledo, Eberflus coached defensive backs. In his seven seasons as a full-timer, Toledo boasted a winning record each season, compiling a 56-22-2 record, including an 11-0-1 finish in 1995 and a 10-1 finish in 2000.
Eberflus was a four-year letterman and a three-year starting linebacker at Toledo. He earned first-team All-Conference honors as a junior and senior as he led the team in tackles both years. He also served as a team captain as a senior and took home the Nicholson Trophy for contributing the most towards the success of the team.
Eberflus earned his degree in education from Toledo in 1993 and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
