The Dallas Cowboys turned over a new leaf by hiring 34-year-old Christian Parker as their defensive coordinator. The youngest DC in franchise history, Parker brings a proven track record of developing defensive backs and coordinating elite passing defenses.
The first step for Parker is finalizing a coaching staff so that the Cowboys can start evaluating draft prospects. The East-West Shrine Bowl is underway at AT&T Stadium, and the Senior Bowl begins Monday in Mobile, Alabama.
Well, the Tennessee Titans, who are 6-28 over the last two seasons, may take one tough decision out of Parker’s hands. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Titans have requested an interview with Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton for their DC opening.
While Whitecotton previously coached under new Titans head coach Robert Saleh with the New York Jets, their paths crossed long before that, starting in 2014 when they were assistants on the Jaguars.
In Saleh's final year as the 49ers' DC in 2020, he brought Whitecotton to San Francisco as his assistant DL coach. When Saleh took the Jets' head coaching job in 2021, he hired Whitecotton as NY's defensive line coach.
Given their shared history, Whitecotton may be a serious candidate for the job.
Titans requested to interview Cowboys DL coach Aaron Whitecotton for their defensive coordinator opening, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 23, 2026
Whitecotton also interviewed for the Cowboys DC job and was part of new Titans coach Robert Saleh’s staff in New York. Dallas DL was among tops in QB hits. pic.twitter.com/OfwP8FCfss
Cowboys won't lose sleep if Aaron Whitecotton becomes the Titans' defensive coordinator
The Cowboys shouldn't lose sleep if Whitecotton reunites with Saleh. While he was praised for helping players navigate the Marshawn Kneeland tragedy, the defensive line didn't perform well under his guidance.
If you can believe it, Dallas ranked second in the NFL with 73 quarterback knockdowns, and their 74.0 pass-rush grade as a team ranked 13th, per Pro Football Focus. Despite that, they finished 26th with a 0.95 percent sack rate and 29th in quarterback scramble rate.
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Those latter stats don’t accurately reflect how ineffective the Cowboys’ pass rush was throughout the season.
Of the full-time starters, only Quinnen Williams and Jadeveon Clowney finished with a pass-rush win rate north of 15.0 percent. Donovan Ezeiruaku only notched 1.5 sacks and a 12.6 win rate, while Dante Fowler managed just 3.5 sacks after tallying 10.5 sacks in Washington last year.
Not a single player improved under Whitecotton’s watch. If he takes the Tennessee job, the Cowboys and Parker would be free to bring in a new coach who more aligns with Parker's defensive philosophy, which is the direction they should be heading regardless.