The Cowboys continue to build out their defensive staff under Christian Parker.
Georgia is expected to lose its second position coach this offseason.
According to a report from CBS Sports‘ Matt Zenitz, outside linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe is expected to take the same position on the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff. The 33-year-old interviewed for the position with the Cowboys on Monday and will now join former Georgia offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff.
Diribe confirmed the move in a message to UGASports.
A Long Beach, California, native who played his college football at Colorado, Uzo-Diribe spent four seasons in Athens after joining the staff ahead of the 2022 season. He had previous stints at TCU, SMU, Kansas, and his alma mater.
During his time in Athens, Uzo-Diribe oversaw the development of first-round NFL Draft picks, Nolan Smith and Jalon Walker. The latter successfully split time at both inside and outside linebacker throughout his three years at Georgia.
As a junior, Walker finished tied for the team lead in sacks with 6.5 while also totaling 60 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, two passes defended, and two fumble recoveries. Walker joined Roquan Smith and Nakobe Dean as the third Georgia player to win the Butkus Award under Kirby Smart.
Uzo-Diribe joins Stacy Searels as the two position coaches to leave their posts this offseason. However, Uzo-Diribe becomes the first to leave the staff, as Searels remains with the team in an analyst role.
Breaking down the differences in this year’s hiring process.
Sometimes these coaching searches lead to head coaches and coordinators hiring people they know or worked with for a long time.
Look at last year’s defensive staff after Dallas hired Matt Eberflus as the coordinator. Linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, defensive passing game coordinator/safeties coach Andre Curtis and secondary/corners coach David Overstreet II worked for Eberflus with the Chicago Bears. Defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton was the only position coach without a direct tie to Eberflus.
The thinking behind hiring coaches with direct knowledge of the scheme used by the coordinator is solid. Theoretically, it should help speed up the teaching process for the players because there is not a lot of “coaching” the coaches. Familiarity and comfort aren’t bad things.
But let’s look at the Cowboys’ offensive staff from a year ago after Brian Schottenhemier was named head coach. Steve Shimko, the quarterbacks coach, was the only one whose background with Schottenheimer went beyond his three previous years with the Cowboys. They had spent two years together with the Seattle Seahawks.
Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams never worked with Schottenheimer. Same goes for offensive line coach Conor Riley, receivers coach Junior Adams and running backs coach Derrick Foster. Riley and Adams came from college football to the Cowboys.
Despite not having much experience with each other, the Cowboys had one of the best offenses in the NFL, finishing second in yards and seventh in points per game.
Schottenheimer was deliberate with his search for the offensive staff, and despite the lack of common background they fused together well.
That’s what it looks like the Cowboys are doing with their search for their defensive staff.
The cornerback room will look completely different compared to Week 1 of 2025.
Present: Where to begin here? Let’s start by pointing out the elephant in the room: Diggs is no longer a Cowboy. That statement seemed an unfathomable one only one year ago, but more bouts with injury mixed in with a contentious relationship with the front office and Matt Eberflus led to his release this past season — marking a new age at cornerback in Dallas, but one that doesn’t have a face yet.
DaRon Bland ended the season on injured reserve with another injury to his foot that required surgery to repair, and rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel never found his groove in his return from injury. Reddy Steward was a welcome surprise at nickel corner, but Caelen Carson was unable to consistently show his ability after being shelved following a career outing in Las Vegas. In other words, there’s a lot to sort through for 2026.
Future: Bland’s foot is something to keep an eye on going forward, especially without Diggs in the picture anymore. Should he miss any amount of time, the Cowboys will have to hope Revel having a full offseason of health will put him in prime form, Carson will develop into what he was at Wake Forest when he earned the name “Seat Belt”, and that Josh Butler (who nearly missed the entire 2025 season waiting to return from injury) and Trikweze Bridges are the/an answer.
More likely, however, one of the solutions isn’t in the building yet. The cornerback position appears to need the assistance of free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, if not both. Carson is entering Year 3, which means a decision on his future looms large, and there’s only one player that can be pointed to in the CB room as “that guy”, and only if he can keep both of his wheels rolling along without anymore issues.
Currently, the former All-Pro cornerback is unemployed. Could that change this offseason?
Stefon Diggs defended his younger brother, former Cowboys and Packers cornerback Trevon Diggs, this week during the buildup of Super Bowl LX.
Diggs, a wide receiver for the Patriots, said Trevon, who played in nine games in an injury-filled season, will bounce back in 2026.
“I always tell my brother, don’t take things personal when people you don’t know personally,” Stefon Diggs said. “It’s going to be a million people that have opinions about you. … As long as you living right, trying hard, playing your best, that’s what it comes down to.”
Diggs, 27, started his season with the Cowboys. He recovered from knee surgery and was able to start the season on time. Yet, he endured knee issues during the season and also suffered a concussion at home when a pole from a television mount hit him in the head.
He wasn’t a fan of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ defensive system and didn’t come home with the team following a road trip in Landover, Md., which eventually led to his release.
Diggs signed with Green Bay and played in one game. After playing one defensive snap in the Packers’ playoff game, he was released.
Trevon Diggs finished the 2025 season with no interceptions, the first time that’s happened in his career.
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