Signed by Cowboys Cowboys hire Eagles secondary coach Christian Parker as DC

[StarW]

Congrats to Christian and his family for getting to work with this talent. It is a dream come true.

Yep. You've identified exactly why he's coming here.

We discard elite players like Diggs knowing how rich the deptch chart is.

Parker knows it, too, and he wants some.

 

[StarW]

i do like that he has spent a lot of time with Fangio. Do not want Gannon!

I was worried about Gannon and a few other guys. Parkers unproven, but at least we don't KNOW he sucks.

I'm low-key optimistic, and I'm really curious about how the defensive roster shakes out for 2026. It's a mess.

Glad we got Parker hired on time to plan free agency and the draft. I feel good that we said no to retread has-beens this time and gambled on youth and progress.

The young mind that connects with players and and innovates worked for us on offense already. Not sure why we been stuck in the past on defense?

For the record, this isn't me saying, "we fixed it!" Just saying we at least we quit doing what wasn't working with burnouts like Nolan, Marinelli, Eberdone, etc., and are trying a new approach.

 

[zekecowboy]

hey whoever is cheapest, he's our guy!!!!

I thought the culture was going to change. If we see some free agent signings that are not bottom of the barrel pick ups, I might actually believe that things could improve for Dallas!!!

 

[zekecowboy]

how much??? $$

Why do you think Jerry hired a younger guy? Any links that confirm this was a Shotty pick? Jerry may have simply went with CP because Leonhard was going to the Giants.

Will be interesting to see if CP picks his own defensive staff. I believe the defensive staff was on one year contracts.

 

[zekecowboy]

Going from the Eagles who won the Superbowl last year to the Cowboys who has not won a Superbowl in 30 years is not a promotion

If CP does well for the next 2 years he will be interviewing for a head coach position. More money.

 

[Pass2Run]

I was worried about Gannon and a few other guys. Parkers unproven, but at least we don't KNOW he sucks.

I'm low-key optimistic, and I'm really curious about how the defensive roster shakes out for 2026. It's a mess.

Glad we got Parker hired on time to plan free agency and the draft. I feel good that we said no to retread has-beens this time and gambled on youth and progress.

The young mind that connects with players and and innovates worked for us on offense already. Not sure why we been stuck in the past on defense?

For the record, this isn't me saying, "we fixed it!" Just saying we at least we quit doing what wasn't working with burnouts like Nolan, Marinelli, Eberdone, etc., and are trying a new approach.

Eberdone was an everdunce.

I like this guy's approach.

 

[Zekeats]

Me too but I kind of like this hire.

This is the type of move that gets up a championship. We've seen it time and time again. Keep the HC in place, replace a DC or OC and the next thing you know, BAM another Ring.

 

[plasticman]

Okay, I admit I'm a little late to this party.

Although I've read a half dozen pages, I further confess that I have no plans to read the entire 36.

I have noticed that the same question keeps popping up with some rather ambiguous responses.

Has Christian Parker physically signed the contract offered to him by Jerry Jones?

If the answer is "NO" then I have a pretty good idea as to why?

If the answer is "YES", then congratulations, Jerry, you've deceived another future ex-Cowboys DC.

I'll bet Jerry acknowledged that Parker needs a certain amount of autonomy when it comes to how he wants to run the defense. However, if Parker hasn't signed yet then it's because his agent is still scouring the contents of that contract in search of those exact powers.

He should stop looking. It's not there.

As long as Jerry Jones is alive, it will never be there.

Complete autonomy in all football related matters was spelled out in the contract of Jimmy Johnson and Jerry still reneged.

He and Parcells had an "agreement" that Bill would have a say in "shopping for the groceries". One day TO showed up at Parcells doorsteps or as Parcells used to call him, "number 81". And that wasn't the first time Jerry went shopping without Parcells.

Dan Reeves, an intelligent ex-player/coach/GM recognized the deception immediately and hit the door running.

In 2010 Jerry Jones was so authoritarian that the coordinator was instructed to report directly to the GM.....Jerry Jones.

Notice that "coordinator" is not in the plural form. That's because he figured that as long as he was helping out with the head coach chores, why waste a perfectly good ex-DC in Wade Phillips. He then fired Wade in the middle of the season following a 1-7 start.

Yes, perhaps he has already signed the papers and must learn the hard way. I'm sure many tried to warn him.

However, if he has not signed them by now, stop the organ music. Find the receipt to that ring. The "best man" has some consoling to do.

 

[Kwyn]

Why do you think Jerry hired a younger guy? Any links that confirm this was a Shotty pick?

What would “confirm” that for you? A Jerry quote?

Every reporter and insider both locally a nationally is saying this is viciously a Schottenheimer decision. I seriously doubt any of us were in the room so I’m good with that.

Youngest DC ever for us
Third minority Coordinator in Cowboy history
Zero connections to anyone in the front office
Not a former HC

Everything that Jerry is known for is turned on its head

 

[cowboyed]

If this is actually happening, I'm surpised he chose Cowboys over Green Bay. Unless Green Bay didn't like his interview.

Green Bay not liking his interview doesn't have to be the reason. He certainly is familiar with NFC East. Might like Schotty. Maybe has strong input recommending assistant coaches and maybe has a hand in defensive player acquisition. Got some stout Cowboys coordinator position compensation.

 

[JW82]

I was worried about Gannon and a few other guys. Parkers unproven, but at least we don't KNOW he sucks.

I'm low-key optimistic, and I'm really curious about how the defensive roster shakes out for 2026. It's a mess.

Glad we got Parker hired on time to plan free agency and the draft. I feel good that we said no to retread has-beens this time and gambled on youth and progress.

The young mind that connects with players and and innovates worked for us on offense already. Not sure why we been stuck in the past on defense?

For the record, this isn't me saying, "we fixed it!" Just saying we at least we quit doing what wasn't working with burnouts like Nolan, Marinelli, Eberdone, etc., and are trying a new approach.

I feel exactly the same. Rather roll the dice on the up and comer over the retreads. IMO the approach of getting a failed head coach to be your coordinator just because you know he won't leave for a head coach job, is the equivalent of drafting Taco because you need a defensive end. Leads to mediocrity at best.

 

[Jarntt]

Will this hire result in a Comp Pick?

no comp pick for a DC. If he does a great job and someone hires him to be their HC we would get a comp pick


The NFL has made significant changes to the Rooney Rule since 2020, including redefining “diversity” and broadening the positions subject to the Rule.38 However, the Rule’s most significant evolu- tion was the NFL’s adoption of 2020 Resolution JC-2A (“Res. JC-2A”), which rewards draft picks to teams that develop diverse candidates into leading candidates that become HCs and GMs.39 The NFL mod- ified the compensatory pick system, which traditionally compensates teams for players lost in free agency, in order to reward teams for the advancement of diverse candidates under Res. JC-2A.40 Despite the additions of these rules, the unfortunate reality once again is that their efficacy is varied.41 For example, the San Francisco 49ers have demonstrated the team-side benefits of Res. JC-2A, as the team has received twelve compensatory picks after helping two diverse GMs and three diverse HCs find employment with other teams since 2020

 

[Jarntt]

i probably am taking an opposite stance of many of my friends on here. But I am good with this.

Eagles message boards fans are not happy that A) they lost him and B) he went to Dallas.

on a broader scale it seems like they all label him as an up and comer that the arrow is pointing way up.

maybe we hit on a guy. And don't you guys butcher me for thinking maybe the move is a good one!

Actually, I think most agree with you or I should say most fans and media people I've read comments from agree with you. I didn't read most of this thread. I'm getting more and more excited about the hire myself. Hopefully he has an attacking Vance Joseph mentality.

 

[Jarntt]

Going from the Eagles who won the Superbowl last year to the Cowboys who has not won a Superbowl in 30 years is not a promotion

"CowboysFanLover" .
You guys do know we can pick you out from 1,500 miles away - or according to a google distance measure search, I should say 1,295.23 miles away...

 

[DStar22]

I just saw this. Is this good?? I mean it looks like it’s the best hire out of that bunch.

It's no good without players our coaches want to bolster up the Defense. No DC hire is.

other than that, who knows... he's never been a DC before.

 

[doomsday9084]

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/opp.htm

Eagles defensive rankings:
Yards 13th
Yards per play 7th
Int 15th
Passing TD's 1st
Yards / Pass 7th
% of drives ending in a score 7th

Overall, a good but not great defense.

For comparison, Dallas:
Yards 30th
Yards per play 31st
Int 29th
Yards / Pass 32nd
Passing TD's 31st
% of drives ending in a score 32nd

Dallas gave up a score on 51.4% of opponent possessions. Pro-football-reference tracks that back to 1998. YES! Dallas had the worst defense of all time when you look at it from that statistic (tied with Carolina). Quite the accomplishment.

 

[Kwyn]

no comp pick for a DC. If he does a great job and someone hires him to be their HC we would get a comp pick


The NFL has made significant changes to the Rooney Rule since 2020, including redefining “diversity” and broadening the positions subject to the Rule.38 However, the Rule’s most significant evolu- tion was the NFL’s adoption of 2020 Resolution JC-2A (“Res. JC-2A”), which rewards draft picks to teams that develop diverse candidates into leading candidates that become HCs and GMs.39 The NFL mod- ified the compensatory pick system, which traditionally compensates teams for players lost in free agency, in order to reward teams for the advancement of diverse candidates under Res. JC-2A.40 Despite the additions of these rules, the unfortunate reality once again is that their efficacy is varied.41 For example, the San Francisco 49ers have demonstrated the team-side benefits of Res. JC-2A, as the team has received twelve compensatory picks after helping two diverse GMs and three diverse HCs find employment with other teams since 2020

Some additional clarification.

I’ve seen fans across the league think that *hiring* a minority candidate gives you comp picks

Only the team *losing* a minority coach or exec to a HC or GM role gets the pick.

Example

• Robert Saleh left San Francisco for the Jets head coaching job after the 2021 season.
• The Niners received two third round comp picks
• Saleh went *back* to SF for the 2025 season and was just hired as the Titans head coach for 2026
• The Niners *will not* get comp picks this time because the rule only rewards a team if they had the coach for two uninterrupted seasons

Close to home what if

• If Christian Parker has a miracle season and gets a HC job next season, we get nothing because he would only have one season with us
• If he gets a HC job in 2028, we *would* get two third round picks

So far there have not been any minority HC or GM hires so up to this point no one has comp picks coming

@J12B

 

[speedkilz88]

If this is actually happening, I'm surpised he chose Cowboys over Green Bay. Unless Green Bay didn't like his interview.

He never made it to Green Bay,

 

[75boyz]

I was worried about Gannon and a few other guys. Parkers unproven, but at least we don't KNOW he sucks.

I'm low-key optimistic, and I'm really curious about how the defensive roster shakes out for 2026. It's a mess.

Glad we got Parker hired on time to plan free agency and the draft. I feel good that we said no to retread has-beens this time and gambled on youth and progress.

The young mind that connects with players and and innovates worked for us on offense already. Not sure why we been stuck in the past on defense?

For the record, this isn't me saying, "we fixed it!" Just saying we at least we quit doing what wasn't working with burnouts like Nolan, Marinelli, Eberdone, etc., and are trying a new approach.

Great post.

I'm normally pessimistic by nature with anything Cowboy coaching related, but I agree that this hire along with the Adams and Riley offensive hires last year gives me a little more hope over my past years' apathy of same ol' same ol.

 

[Risen Star]