FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have agreed on a multiyear contract extension with vice president of player personnel Will McClay, who has overseen the club's draft process since 2014.
The deal announced Wednesday comes the same week the Cowboys introduced new coach Brian Schottenheimer, who replaced Mike McCarthy, and hired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen.
Dallas also announced the hiring of three more assistants in linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis.
McClay's success in the draft, which includes 15 players who have made at least one Pro Bowl, has led to interest over the years from other teams wanting to interview him for general manager openings.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has held the GM title since buying the club in 1989, and McClay has said frequently he had no desire to leave the storied franchise.
The 58-year-old McClay has been with the Cowboys since 2002, when he was a scout while also on the coaching staff of the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. He was the AFL team's head coach for five seasons.
McClay was promoted to VP of personnel in 2017. Among the picks in his tenure of running the draft are six-time All-Pro right guard Zack Martin, two-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons and star receiver CeeDee Lamb. All were first-round picks. Franchise quarterback Dak Prescott was a fourth-round choice in 2016.
Borgonzi and Curtis were on Eberflus' staff in Chicago. The Bears fired Eberflus 12 games into his third season in 2024. This is Eberflus' second stint with the Cowboys. Whitecotton was most recently the defensive line coach with the New York Jets.
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FILE - Will McClay, vice president of player personnel looks on at the Dallas Cowboys NFL football training camp, Aug. 1, 2022, in Oxnard, Calif. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, file)
CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.
Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.
“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”
During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.
He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.
“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”
While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.
Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.
“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”
Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.
Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.
“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”
He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
