The Dallas Cowboys have made their hire at defensive coordinator, bucking their history of hiring retread ex-head coaches in search of, as owner Jerry Jones put it, “redemption” and instead going with a young up-and-comer, Christian Parker. He’s only 34 but already has an impressive resume, breaking into the NFL with the Packers and moving up to coach the Broncos’ defensive backs before taking the same role with the Eagles, where he was also the passing game coordinator.
Of the last five picks the Cowboys have had at defensive coordinator, the youngest was Dan Quinn, who had coached the Falcons and was 50 years old. The most recent was Matt Eberflus, the ex-Bears coach, who was 54 and lasted only one year. Prior to him, it was Mike Zimmer, who was 67 and had been the Vikings‘ head coach.
Parker represents a sharp change in the Cowboys’ staffing, and he’s gotten rave reviews from his past players. Now, the question is, can Parker help the Cowboys attract players to a moribund defensive roster whose issues are more personnel-based than coaching-based.
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For Cowboys team reporter Patrik Walker, the hope is that he can, with two Eagles unrestricted free agents at the front of mind. Dallas badly needs help at linebacker and safety, and it so happens that parker could help the Cowboys poach one of each from Philly.
Of special interest is linebacker Nakobe Dean, a 25-year-old captain-of-the-defense type who came back this season from a patellar tendon tear suffered in last year’s playoffs. Dean started only eight games but registered a career-high 4.0 sacks on the season. He would not be cheap as linebackers go–Spotrac projects him warranting a four-year, $61 million contract on the market this offseason.
As Walker wrote on Twitter/X: “(Eagles) unrestricted free agents: Nakobe Dean, Reed Blankenship … i’m just going to assume Christian Parker will have a word with the #Cowboys about at least one of them.”
Blankenship would potentially fill a need at safety, after starting 50 games in four seasons for the Eagles. He has nine career interceptions and 23 passes defensed.
Star Defensive Back Praised Christian Parker
One of the requirements for the job as far as Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was concerned was the ability to communicate and teach, and that is, no doubt, a strength for Parker.
After the Eagles’ season, young star cornerback Cooper DeJean told reporters, “I can say a lot of things about what he’s meant to me and (Quinyon Mitchell), too. We’ve had a routine of we go meet with him two or three times a week to go over the team we’re playing or go over different looks. I don’t think I’d be the player I am or have the success that I’ve had without him.
“He’s poured a lot into me and Q, too, ever since we got here. I appreciate him for that. Not everyone notices him and I don’t think he gets the recognition that I think he should.”
Now all the Cowboys need to do is give Parker better players to teach.
Cowboys Urged to Poach $61 Million Eagles Star After Christian Parker Hire