FRISCO, Texas — Things are moving right along in the Dallas Cowboys' process to rebuild its defensive staff. A wide net for defensive assistants and position coaches has been cast by head coach Brian Schottenheimer and newly-hired defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and another one of their top targets is snagged for 2026.
Just two weeks after Parker was named successor to Matt Eberflus, and in short order following three other hires — Ryan Smith, Derrick Ansley and Marcus Dixon — the Cowboys have officially hired Chidera Uzo-Diribe, Georgia outside linebackers coach to take on the same role in Dallas as a branch of the Kirby Smart coaching tree (which inherently makes him a disciple of the Nick Saban tree).
And with several more candidates on the bill, and the list still growing, expect more new additions to the staff as Parker is given the green light to build his staff as he sees fit which, not so coincidentally, mirrors the fashion in which Schottenheimer designed his offensive braintrust one year ago.
Uzo-Diribe indirectly replaces Dave Borgonzi, who was released from his contract this offseason after only one year with the club, following one of the worst showings at the position in recent memory, though an inside linebackers coach is still needed; seeing as Uzo-Diribe focuses primarily on edge rushers in an odd-man front.
Anyone who even remotely pays attention to college football has seen that Georgia's defensive line can get after the opposing quarterback, and that's in large part thanks to Uzo-Diribe. Along with the play of their linebackers, many of whom make their way into the NFL, the defensive front is routinely one of the best in the country.
The 33-year-old former defensive lineman is a fast-riser in the coaching ranks, by any metric, having already coached at Kansas and TCU, for a short spell, before helping to lead the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2022, by all but obliterating TCU, ironically. The list of names that have excelled at Georgia under Uzo-Diribe is long and recognizable, e.g., 2025 first-round pick (11th-overall) Mykel Williams, amongst others.
Much like Junior Adams and Conor Riley on the offensive side of the ball, this will mark Uzo-Diribe's first voyage into the NFL ranks, bringing fresh ideas, a championship collegiate resume and one of the best pipelines in the nation to the Cowboys.
