Inside The Star
As you see by the title, the Cowboys are nearly done with a deal to make a rival coach the new defensive coordinator.
It is Eagles secondary coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker. This is a wonderful hire.
Parker, who broke into the NFL as a defensive quality control coach with the Packers in 2019. Seven years later, he’s expected to be the new DC for the Cowboys.
Say what you wish about the Eagles, but players like cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and safety Reed Blankenship have thrived under Parker, and Dallas needed this type of guy in the building to help a horrible defense.
The deal is done, but the number of years and the price tag have not yet been dropped. Please continue to check this or twitter to see the official update.
The Cowboys are working to hire Christian Parker as their defensive coordinator, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Just 34 years old, Parker spent the past two seasons as passing game coordinator/DBs coach under Vic Fangio with the Eagles. Now gets his first DC job in the NFC East. pic.twitter.com/boxhtCnEvk
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 22, 2026
We have dragged this front office through the mud over and over again, but they finally went about this hiring the correct way.
The last handful of defensive coordinators have been former head coaches. That is just what Jerry has done, and it has failed outside of Dan Quinn.
Hiring Matt Eberflus was a horrible decision last year, and clearly he got the memo from all of us fans.
According to those close that cover the team closely, Parker nailed the interview process and rose to the top of the preferred list very quickly.
The Cowboys had a strong desire to speak with Jim Leonhard again, but understanding that his situation could be more of a waiting game and recruitment, Parker was the guy that would take the job now, and he was my second pick.
Leonhard was my first choice for this job, but Parker and the work that he has done with the Eagles’ backend was a huge reason why he was a solid choice for this job.
Work still needs to be done when he gets here. The secondary is a huge issue and with Trevon Diggs no longer here and DaRon Bland on his second foot surgery, he will have some work to do.
I really like this hire, though, he is a guy that helped the Eagles secondary become one of the best in the league in a very short time. He knows how to develop players, and that is something Dallas will have to do through the draft.
The 34-year-old Parker has a strong track record of getting the best out of his players.
He notably oversaw the development of Patrick Surtain II with the Denver Broncos before coming to Philly and coaching Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to All-Pro...
