New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is already hitting the ground running with building out his Dallas Cowboys staff. After one reported interview, he's already looking better than Matt Eberflus ever did.
According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Cowboys have completed an interview with former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin for the same position on their staff.
Martin has spent nearly a decade under Mike Tomlin with the Steelers, playing a major role in developing key defenders like T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Now, the Cowboys have an opportunity to bring him in as a featured voice in their defensive rebuild.
Cowboys interview former Mike Tomlin assistant for Christian Parker's staff
The Cowboys' defense was abysmal in 2025, single-handedly keeping Dak Prescott and the electric offense from making the playoffs. The whole defense needed to be overhauled, starting with replacing Eberflus with Parker. Less than a week after getting hired, the new defensive coordinator is already showing off his genius with this interview.
Tomlin may not have an extensive coaching tree to his name, but he has produced some dominant defenses since taking over as the Steelers' head coach. Those units have always been headlined by superstar outside linebackers. From James Harrison to Watt, these players have consistently made an impact for Tomlin's teams.
The Cowboys could be trying to take a bit of that magic for themselves with this interview. Martin has been with the Steelers since 2016, and he's coached outside linebackers since 2020. He helped develop Watt, Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, ultimately forming one of the league's most dangerous groups of edge rushers.
The Steelers ranked sixth in the NFL in sacks this season, despite falling in the bottom half of the league in defensive scoring. Much of that production came from their outside backers, a testament to Martin's coaching.
Without a star edge defender currently on the roster, Dallas could use some of Martin's expertise. They could add to the position early in the 2026 NFL Draft. If they do, it will be crucial to have a coach who can develop young players and put them in positions to succeed.
Of course, nothing here is concrete quite yet. Martin has reportedly just completed one interview, and Parker will take some time to fill out his staff. But if nothing else, this is a sign that the new defensive coordinator is looking in the right places.