After firing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus following the end of the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys had been looking to fill the role. It took them less than three weeks to make a decision, hiring Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker earlier this evening. Parker will be the new defensive coordinator in Dallas in 2026.
More on Parker:
Parker is just 34 years old and began coaching in the NFL in 2019 with the current Eagles defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio. Over the past two seasons, Fangio’s defense has been one of the best in the league, and Parker has been a huge part of that.
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The Eagles ranked eighth in passing yards allowed this past season and ranked first in passing TDs surrendered. The season before, the Eagles ranked first in the league in passing yards allowed and allowed just 22 passing touchdowns, which ranked sixth in the NFL.
This hiring could be a huge step up for Dallas:
Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus looks on in the first half against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
This past season under Eberlfus, the Cowboys had the worst defense in the league in passing yards allowed and ranked second-to-last in touchdown passes allowed. The Cowboys defense was just as bad, if not worse, in terms of points allowed and yards allowed, ranking dead last in points allowed and 30th overall in yards allowed.
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What this hire means going forward:
Dec 21, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) signals towards the sideline following a play against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Cowboys were one of the top offenses in the NFL this past season, with Dak Prescott having one of the best years in his career, yet they finished under .500 and missed the playoffs. Had they even been a middle-of-the-pack team defensively, they could have easily been a playoff team.
The hope is that Parker can be the answer the Cowboys need after spending seven seasons coaching under Vic Fangio. This could be an A+ hire, but it could also be a disaster, considering Parker has never held a role this big in the NFL.
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