2 Cowboys defensive assistants to coach in 2026 Senior Bowl

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Two more Cowboys assistants are taking a temp assignment to coach some of the top collegiate talent in the country right before the pre-draft process begins for the entire league.

David Overstreet II, the Cowboys’ current cornerbacks and secondary coach, will serve as defensive coordinator for the National team in the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl, set to be played in Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 31.

Defensive quality control assistant Tanzel Smart has also been tapped, to be the squad’s defensive line coach.

Both just finished their first year in Dallas. Overstreet had been on staff under Matt Eberflus in Chicago and Indianapolis prior to that; Smart wrapped up a seven-year playing career in 2023 after DT stints with four teams, including three seasons bring coached by current Cowboys D-line coach Aaron Whitecotton with the Jets.

The Senior Bowl is one of two major all-star games that traditionally conclude the college football season. The East West Shrine Bowl, to be played Jan. 27 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, will also feature a pair of Cowboys staffers on the sidelines. Tight ends coach Lunda Wells will be the head coach for the West squad, while Whitecotton will play defensive coordinator for the opposing East team.

The Panini Senior Bowl has a tremendous track record of showcasing players for NFL scouts and evaluators. In 2025, 99% of participating players went on to be either drafted or selected by a team as an undrafted free agent. For the pro coaches who lead the all-star crews, it’s an opportunity to get an up-close sneak peak at the players who will make the big boards, but also to level up their own coaching experience with a short-term gig that’s higher on the ladder than where they currently stand.

Overstreet and Smart’s National team at the Senior Bowl will include offensive standouts like Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, Indiana wide receiver Elijah Surratt, and Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker. Defensively, they’ll work more closely with the likes of Tennessee cornerback Jalen McMurray, Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams, and Texas Tech lineman David Bailey.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2 Cowboys defensive assistants to coach in 2026 Senior Bowl

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