Matt Eberflus (EE-bur-floos) enters his 18th NFL season and joins the 49ers for his first season as assistant head coach defense. Prior to San Francisco, Eberflus spent the 2025 season as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Before his time in Dallas, Eberflus served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears for three seasons (2022-24).
The 2025 Cowboys defense was led by the defensive line, as DL Jadeveon Clowney registered the fifth-most sacks in a single season in his career with a team-high 8.5. Midseason acquisition, DL Quinnen Williams, earned Pro Bowl honors after adding 9 quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.
During his tenure as head coach in Chicago, Eberflus oversaw significant offensive and defensive development. In 2023, the Bears led the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (1,468) and rushing yards allowed per game (86.4), while also ranking second in opponent rushing first downs (88) and opponent rushing touchdowns (eight). Chicago's offense was equally productive, ranking second in the NFL in total rushing yards (2,399) and rushing yards per game (141.1), and tying for the most rushes of 10-or-more yards (74). Under his leadership, DB Jaylon Johnson earned AP All-Pro recognition and his first Pro Bowl selection, while DL Montez Sweat earned his first-career Pro Bowl nod.
Before joining the Bears, Eberflus spent four seasons (2018- 21) as the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts. During that span, the Colts made two postseason appearances (2018 & 2020). Over his final two seasons in Indianapolis (2020-21), Eberflus' group became the only defense in the NFL to rank top-10 in takeaways, run defense and fewest points allowed in back-to-back seasons. The unit also finished as the least-penalized defense in the NFL in two of his four seasons with the Colts (2019 & 2021).
Eberflus was instrumental in the development of LB Shaquille Leonard, guiding the second-round pick (36th overall) out of South Carolina State in his first season as Indianapolis' defensive coordinator. Leonard went on to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 after leading the NFL in tackles, helping the Colts reach the postseason and earn a victory over the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round. Over their four seasons together, Leonard earned three AP First-Team All-Pro honors with Eberflus as his coordinator.
After inheriting a Colts defense that finished 30th in the NFL in both scoring and total yards in 2017, Eberflus helped Indianapolis improve to rank 10th in scoring and 11th in yards allowed in his first year directing the unit (2018). Indianapolis became just the second franchise in NFL history to start a season 1-5 and win a playoff game. In 2019, Eberflus' defense ranked seventh in rushing yards allowed per game (97.9), marking the first time since 1976-77 that the Colts finished in the top-10 in run defense in back-to-back seasons. Indianapolis also ranked in the top-10 in interceptions (15 - seventh) and takeaways (23 - t-10th).
In his third season leading the Colts' defense (2020), Eberflus guided the NFL's number two-ranked run defense, allowing an AFC-best 90.5 yards per game. It marked the first time the franchise achieved a top-five ranking in run defense since 1971. Indianapolis finished the season 11-5 with a postseason berth, creating 25 takeaways, tied for fifthmost in the NFL. In 2021, Eberflus' unit tied for the NFL-lead in fumble recoveries (14), ranked tied for third-best in opponent three-and-out percentage (22.7%) and finished ninth in points allowed per game (21.5). Following his first season coordinating Indianapolis' defense, Eberflus finished third in voting for the AP Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2018.
