Inside The Star
In the midst of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the teams who did not qualify for the postseason have been hard at work preparing for the 2026 campaign.
The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams, and they have been scouring the defensive coordinator market after relieving Matt Eberflus of his duties.
Offensively, the Cowboys had one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, led by QB Dak Prescott and what many can argue has been his best season performance, to date.
However, defensively, it was the worst defensive performance in franchise history.
Maybe losing All-Pro EDGE Micah Parsons had a big part in that?
It’s no secret. Even the Cowboys themselves admitted they would need to scheme pass rush after losing one of the best one-on-one pass rush winners in the league.
I just don’t think anyone expected the drop off to be so steep.
Something needs to change to take advantage of the talent that the defense does have remaining, and that has been the Cowboys’ focus since the end of the regular season.
There are four candidates that the Cowboys have either interviewed or are planning to interview in the future, and they all share one common denominator.
Credit to Twitter/X user Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) for doing the research to find out that there were only four games this season where Cowboys QB Dak Prescott did not throw a touchdown pass.
Lo and behold, the Dallas Cowboys are interviewing a member of each one of those defensive staffs for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Let’s take a look at each of those members, and just what they can bring to the Cowboys’ defense in 2026 if given a chance.
Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Philadelphia Eagles
One of the top names in the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator search is Philadelphia Eagles’ Passing Game Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach, Christian Parker.
Parker is receiving attention from several teams, and his next interview is scheduled to be with the Green Bay Packers.
Dallas has an interview scheduled with Parker for Wednesday, in person, should the Packers even let him leave the building.
Parker is a rising star in the coaching ranks, and has coached up one of the best defensive units in the NFL over the past couple of seasons: the Philadelphia secondary.
Players like cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and safety Reed Blankenship have proven Parker’s coaching on the field.
Imagine what Parker could accomplish with DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, and Caelen Carson.
Parker would be a great addition to the Cowboys’ franchise to lead the defense moving forward.
Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator, Denver Broncos
One of the bigger and more sought-after names in this coordinator cycle is Jim Leonhard.
Leonhard is the Assistant Head Coach and Passing Game Coordinator for the Denver...
