The Dallas Cowboys got their man at defensive coordinator. The next step is putting together his staff.
Christian Parker is already off to a quick start after being hired as Dallas’ defensive coordinator. The new DC is already in the process of interviewing several assistants, along with making changes to the team’s current setup.
Below, we’ll keep track of Dallas’ interview requests, hirings and more for Parker’s staff:
Interviews
Cowboys
Denzel Martin
The latest: The Cowboys have interviewed Martin for their outside linebackers coaching gig, a person familiar with the process told The Dallas Morning News on Monday.
Notable: Martin has spent most of his coaching career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has been Pittsburgh’s outside linebackers coach since 2023. He worked his way up to the role, previously serving as the team’s assistant outside linebackers coach (2020-22). He was also a coaching assistant from 2018-19 and a scouting assistant from 2016-17.
Shane Bowen
The latest: The Cowboys are interviewing Bowen for a role on their defensive staff, according to ESPN.
Notable: Bowen was previously the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator. He was fired by the Giants in November. Before landing with the Giants, he was Tennessee’s defensive coordinator from 2021-23. He was an outside linebackers coach with the Titans from 2018-20.
Marcus Dixon
The latest: The Cowboys were expected to interview Dixon for their defensive line coaching role, a person familiar with the process told The News on Jan. 23.
Notable: Dixon has served as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line coach for the past two seasons, also working for the Broncos in the same role for two seasons prior. He previously played for the Cowboys, joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2008.
Ronell Williams
The latest: The Cowboys were expected to speak with Williams about a position on the defensive staff, a person familiar with the process told The News on Jan. 24. Williams is currently an assistant linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Notable: Williams spent the 2019-22 seasons as a defensive quality control coach with the Bears before joining the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2023. He worked with Philadelphia’s nickel cornerbacks in 2023 before being named assistant linebackers/defensive quality control coach for the Eagles in the 2024 offseason.
Departures
– Jan. 26 update: The Cowboys on Monday let three defensive assistants go, two people with knowledge of the decision told The News. Defensive passing game coordinator/safeties coach Andre Curtis, secondary/cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi were let go by the organization.
Dallas will also need a new defensive line coach, as Aaron Whitecotton is taking a new role with the Tennessee Titans.
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