NFL All-Pros rave about former coach, new Cowboys DC Christian Parker

SAN FRANCISCO — Broncos corner Pat Surtain II checked every box when he entered the NFL in 2021. He was a former five-star recruit out of high school. He was a unanimous All-American and a national champion at Alabama. He shares his name with his father, who was also a former Pro Bowler in the NFL.

Surtain had pedigree, production and potential when the Broncos selected him ninth overall. That’s why his perspective on his first NFL defensive backs coach, new Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker, should be considered high praise.

“Just tapping into another level,” Surtain said from Pro Bowl practice on Monday when asked about Parker, who was the Broncos defensive backs coach from 2021-23. “Just not being where you’re at and reaching another level. He sort of makes you reach that potential. There are going to be days when he’s going to challenge you to do this and that. There are going to be days when he’s going to tell you that you need to do this better. He’s going to critique you, but it’s for the better, because he wants the best out of his players, and it shows with what he produces out there.”

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) celebrates his interception with teammates...

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) celebrates his interception with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jack Dempsey / AP

Cowboys

The Cowboys hired Parker, just 34, to do exactly that for a defense that was the worst in franchise history last season under Matt Eberflus, who lasted just one year as defensive coordinator. The Cowboys conducted a thorough search before they chose Parker, most recently the defensive passing game coordinator in Philadelphia, to run their defense. There’s optimism that he could do what he did at his previous two stops and raise the level of a Cowboys defense that’s starting near the ground floor.

The optimism stems from multiple factors, including what he did with corners, specifically.

Parker helped develop Surtain, who went on to be the Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. Parker may not have been in Denver last season to see Surtain reach that potential, but his influence on Surtain lingered.

“He helped a lot,” Surtain said. “Just processing things, slowing the game down for me. We always used to talk ball together, watch film, little stuff like that, little nuances like that, and it helped me a long way, because a lot of stuff I learned from him I still carry on with me to this day. It’s great.”

Parker then went to Philadelphia where he was once again asked to develop not only one talented rookie cornerback, but two. The Eagles used their first two picks on Toledo corner Quinyon Mitchell and Iowa corner Cooper DeJean. DeJean had an interception that helped spark a blowout win in last year’s Super Bowl. Both players developed into All-Pro players this season.

Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, speaking from Pro Bowl practices on Monday, said it was apparent how prepared both Mitchell and DeJean were to start right away.

“We knew they were good athletes and good players, but obviously coming into the NFL as a rookie there’s a learning curve that comes out, and you’re playing a lot of different coverages against top competition,” Baun said. “I don’t know what he does or how he did it, but he made it happen.”

And even though Baun didn’t work specifically with Parker at a positional level, their work often intertwined. Parker was also the Eagles’ defensive passing game coordinator, which means he helped integrate all the coverage schemes for the Eagles. Baun said he shared plenty of deep conversations with Parker during their two years together.

“He’s young, but his football knowledge is insane,” Baun said. “It’s out of this world.”

Surtain echoed that, too.

One question that hovers over Parker is his readiness to call plays and handle an entire defense. He’s never been a defensive play-caller before. Despite the lack of experience, Surtain thinks Parker can handle it in Dallas. He said he could tell that Parker had the potential to rise in the coaching ranks after working with him in Denver.

“He’s been under two great defensive coordinators already in Vance [Joseph] and Vic Fangio,” Surtain said. “I’m pretty sure his mind is sharp enough for that, but also with him, he knows a lot about the game.

“He’s a brilliant mind.”

Perhaps the best compliment, however, came from Baun on Monday.

“I’m sad he left,” Baun said with a smile starting to crack. “Even sadder he went to the [Cowboys].”

Twitter/X: @JoeJHoyt

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