DALLAS - On Monday, the Cowboys announced the hiring of linebackers coach Matt Eberflus, who held the same position under coordinator Rob Ryan for the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Before joining the Browns in 2009, Eberflus had been at the University of Missouri from 2001-08, first as defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach, then as associate head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties in his final three years in Columbia.
Eberflus started his coaching career at Toledo, his alma mater, as a student assistant in 1992. He began working as a full-time assistant at the school in 1994, and had stints as recruiting coordinator, outside linebackers coach and defensive backs coach.
Eberflus' coaching background is similar to that of the man he is replacing, Reggie Herring, who left the Cowboys to join Wade Phillips with the Houston Texans. Like Eberflus, Herring had only two years of NFL experience before coming to the Cowboys, as he spent 2002 and 2003 with the Texans before moving on to N.C. State and later Arkansas. He worked three years for the Cowboys, from 2008-10.
Under Eberflus last season, Browns linebacker David Bowens transitioned from the outside spot in Cleveland's 3-4 to the inside, and had a career-high 71 tackles to go along with 5.5 sacks. Injuries cost the Browns both their starting inside 'backers early in the season, and Eberflus prepared third-year linebacker Jason Trusnik to start. He turned in a personal-best 54 tackles and 2.5 sacks in making the first 10 starts of his career.
Before joining the Browns in 2009, Eberflus had been at the University of Missouri from 2001-08, first as defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach, then as associate head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties in his final three years in Columbia.
Eberflus started his coaching career at Toledo, his alma mater, as a student assistant in 1992. He began working as a full-time assistant at the school in 1994, and had stints as recruiting coordinator, outside linebackers coach and defensive backs coach.
Eberflus' coaching background is similar to that of the man he is replacing, Reggie Herring, who left the Cowboys to join Wade Phillips with the Houston Texans. Like Eberflus, Herring had only two years of NFL experience before coming to the Cowboys, as he spent 2002 and 2003 with the Texans before moving on to N.C. State and later Arkansas. He worked three years for the Cowboys, from 2008-10.
Under Eberflus last season, Browns linebacker David Bowens transitioned from the outside spot in Cleveland's 3-4 to the inside, and had a career-high 71 tackles to go along with 5.5 sacks. Injuries cost the Browns both their starting inside 'backers early in the season, and Eberflus prepared third-year linebacker Jason Trusnik to start. He turned in a personal-best 54 tackles and 2.5 sacks in making the first 10 starts of his career.
