Ephraim

Banda

Banda was requested for the Jets and Cowboys defensive coordinator vacancies, so he at least has some outside buzz as a real candidate. This is the first interview we can record for Tarver. The other name remaining for the Browns appears to be Texans assistant Cory Undlin. It’s an underwhelming group in the wake of Jim Schwartz’s resignation.

It was part of an announcement of eight names that the Jets had preliminary interviews with, those other names are: Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Packers defensive run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington, Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Daronte Jones, Broncos assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard, internal Jets DB coach and defensive pass game coordinator Chris Harris, and Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil. (Mathieu Araujo, the Dolphins cornerbacks coach, was also revealed earlier today.) Martindale hasn’t had any outside interest since last offseason, when he interviewed for the Falcons and Colts defensive coordinator roles.

The Cowboys completed two defensive coordinator interviews today, having met with Vikings defensive pass game coordinator and DB coach Daronte Jones earlier on. Tomorrow, they are set to speak with Broncos assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard.

Banda has coached the Browns’ safety group since the team brought him aboard in 2023. The unit stands out in a league that now frequently utilizes two-high safety looks. The Browns’ defense allowed the league’s ninth-fewest yards per pass play (6.61) despite Banda’s unit logging an NFL-high 773 defensive snaps with just one safety lined up deep this season.