Cowboys say hello to Christian Parker and hope he can turn around a dismal defense

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — New Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker remembers meeting coach Brian Schottenheimer, a very quick hello a few years ago during training camp. “Good memory, man,” Schottenheimer said during Parker's introductory news conference Wednesday. “See how smart he is?

I wouldn’t remember that.” That's not to say the coach Schottenheimer hired away from NFC East rival Philadelphia wasn't on his radar. “This is a name that I’ve had in my notebook for the last couple of years,” said Schottenheimer, going into his second season leading the Cowboys after a quarter-century as an NFL assistant.

“People just kept talking about this guy from Denver, well Green Bay originally, but Denver and Philadelphia. He was a name that I had been hearing a lot about for a long time.” Parker was with the Broncos when they had a joint practice with Dallas in 2022, and a meet and greet afterward.

He didn't talk football then with Schottenheimer, who was a Cowboys consultant, so this interview process was the first time for that. Schottenheimer said the club did more than 40 interviews, nine defensive coordinators among them.

Parker was the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Eagles, which meant they had to grant the Cowboys permission to talk to the 34-year-old because replacing Matt Eberflus, fired after just one season, would be a promotion.

Philadelphia cornerback Cooper DeJean, who needed just two seasons to become an All-Pro under Parker, made it clear on social media how he felt after the news broke, writing on X with a sullen-faced emoji , “Mannnn.

They got a great one — wouldn’t be the player I am without CP.” “I think great players make great coaches,” said Parker, who had another second-year cornerback make All-Pro last season in Quinyon Mitchell.

“When you’re around talented individuals that love the game like you do and they’re willing to put in that work, there’s definitely a happy marriage there when it comes to player development.” Parker will be the fourth Dallas defensive coordinator in the past four seasons. Under Eberflus, the Cowboys gave up the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history.

Dallas had the worst passing defense in the NFL, while the Eagles had one of the league's best in both seasons with Parker. With Parker on staff, Philadelphia was the first repeat winner in the NFC East in 21 years and won the Super Bowl to cap the 2024 season. The Cowboys were plagued by blown assignments because they struggled with the zone-heavy scheme of Eberflus.

Parker brings a 3-4 approach while stressing multiple looks, and speaks of zone and man-to-man coverages as interchangeable. Parker will be in charge of an NFL defense just seven years after entering the league as a quality control coach with the Packers. He spent six seasons in the college ranks. “I’m ready,” Parker said without elaborating when asked if he was ready for his newest role.