A lot of teams say they will cast a wide net for an impending coaching search, but not all of them mean it. Given Jerry Jones' penchant for selling hopium, Dallas Cowboys fans were certainly reluctant to buy into the team actually scouring the landscape for a new defensive coordinator.
Up until this point, the Cowboys haven't brought in any retreads. The interview list is full of rising assistants and potential first-time DCs, confirming that Brian Schottenheimer is driving the bus.
Well, the search took another encouraging turn on Wednesday, with NFL insider Jordan Schultz reporting that Dallas has requested permission to interview Philadelphia Eagles (!) defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker.
Cowboys request interview with Eagles assistant Christian Parker for DC opening
The Eagles had one of the top passing defenses in 2025, ranking first in passing touchdowns allowed (14) and completion percentage (56.8 percent). They also finished fifth in EPA per pass (-0.13) and seventh in dropback success rate (43.2 percent), per Sumer Sports.
Jerry Jones has conveyed his disappointment with the secondary on multiple occasions since the season ended. It's no surprise that Dallas is showing interest in coaches who have a proven track record of developing DBs.
A crucial part of the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX-winning defense, Parker absolutely fits that bill. While Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean entered the league with a lot of pedigree, they morphed into first-team All-Pros in their second season under Parker's coaching. Even rookie safety Andrew Mukuba progressed in pre-snap diagnosis prior to his season-ending injury.
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Before sinking his teeth into Philly's secondary, Parker had success guiding the Broncos' defensive backs from 2021 to 2023. However, his first job in the NFL was as a defensive quality control coach for the Packers in 2019 and 2020.
Incredibly, Parker's coaching career dates all the way back to 2013, when he worked with Virginia State's cornerbacks. He was promoted to secondary coach and recruiting coordinator in 2014 before coaching Norfolk State's defensive backs from 2015 to 2016.
Parker's college coaching journey continued at Texas A&M (2018) and Notre Dame (2017), working as a defensive analyst for both Power 5 programs.
It’s no wonder Parker has such a strong reputation in NFL circles. He’s now the seventh known candidate for the DC vacancy and one to watch as the process moves forward.