Cannon Matthews joined Mike McCarthy's inaugural staff in Dallas as the defensive quality control coach after spending the previous three seasons in the same capacity with Washington. Matthews brought 11 years of NFL coaching experience with him.
In his first season in Dallas, Matthews assisted the defensive staff in the preparation of the game plan, developing the playbook and breaking down opponent film. On the field, Matthews helped with the defensive backs and coordinated the opponent scout team.
He continued his on-field role with defensive backs, concentrating on the nickel in 2021, and slot corner Jourdan Lewis reached a career-high with three picks.
Matthews was named Washington's defensive quality control coach on February 13, 2017 after serving one year as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns in 2016.
In Cleveland, Matthews helped guide a unit that recorded all 10 of the team's interceptions that season. The stint was his second with the Browns, including a defensive coaching internship during the 2013 season in which Cleveland jumped from 23rd to ninth in the NFL in total defense.
From 2014-15, Matthews held the defensive quality control role for the Tennessee Titans, assisting with the team's linebackers. In his first season with the Titans in 2014, the team recorded at least one sack by 18 different players, a team record and the most in the NFL. One year later, the Titans finished sixth in the NFL in sacks-per-pass play, seventh in passing yards allowed and eighth in opponent rushing average.
Matthews spent one season as the running backs coach at Kentucky Christian University in 2012, helping the Knights to a 7-4 record and top-25 ranking during the first winning season in school history.
Prior to his time at the collegiate level, Matthews spent one year in Cleveland as an intern in the personnel department (2007) and four years with the Buffalo Bills. He served as a defensive and special teams coaching assistant from 2008-09 before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball for the 2010-11 seasons. He spent one season as a personnel intern with the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers in 2008.
A native of Bedford Heights, Ohio, Matthews earned a degree in sport management from Ohio University.
