An NFC East squad is taking from their rivals in hopes of finding a defensive boost.
The Dallas Cowboys are hiring Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Thursday, per sources.
It's a bit of a meteoric rise for Parker, 34, who spent the past two seasons on Vic Fangio's staff in Philly and has only coached in the NFL since 2019.
Prior to working with the Eagles, Parker served as the Green Bay Packers' defensive quality control coach from 2019-2020 and Denver Broncos' defensive backs coach from 2021-23.
Parker's secondary has been a strength of the Eagles' top-five scoring defense in both of his years there. Philadelphia ranked first in passing yards allowed in 2024 while giving up 22 touchdowns through the air, sixth-fewest in the NFL, and this past season finished eighth in passing yards allowed and first in passing TDs surrendered (14).
That's a stark difference from Dallas, which was the worst defense in the league in passing yards allowed and gave up a whopping 35 TD passes (31st) in 2025. The entire operation is in need of a face lift after finishing 32nd and 30th in points and yards allowed, respectively, which led to the firing of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season.
Now, in comes Parker, an up-and-coming defensive mind stepping across the divisional aisle to right the wayward Cowboys defense.
