Jerry Jones likens Cowboys defensive coordinator search to Trump's remarks about 'running' Venezuela

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likened his search for a new defensive coordinator to President Donald Trump’s remarks about "going to run the country" in Venezuela after dictator Nicolás Maduro was captured by the U.S. military last week. 

Jones made the reference during his end-of-year press conference Wednesday, which followed the organization’s decision to fire first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after just one season.   

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus looks on in the first half against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. The photo was taken in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 28, 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

Jones was specifically asked by reporters if first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer would have a say in picking his own defensive coordinator for next season.  

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"Trump just said it. I’m running Venezuela," Jones said, eliciting laughs from the room, including from Schottenheimer.

Jones clarified that both Schottenheimer and Jones' son, Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones, were heavily involved in the decision to hire Eberflus, and they will be involved in finding his replacement. 

"We’ll make it the same way we’ve made all the calls around here on staff. I wouldn’t make a call if Stephen didn’t agree with the call. … I wouldn’t do that. 

"We’ll do it the same as we hired Flus. We’ll do it together, and come up with as good as we can." 

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones attends the premiere of Netflix’s "America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys" at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles Aug. 11, 2025. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

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