It appears the Dallas Cowboys have found their new defensive coordinator.
The Cowboys are working to hire Eagles secondary coach Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, a person familiar with the situation told The Dallas Morning Newson Thursday. The hire puts an end to a search that was more extensive than the Cowboys are accustomed to undertaking.
Parker, 34, was with the Eagles the last two seasons. He helped lead a secondary that played a significant rolein the team’s Super Bowl win last year. Parker spent three seasons in Denver as the team’s defensive backs coach before joining the Eagles. Vic Fangio, the current defensive coordinator of the Eagles, originally brought Parker to Denver before bringing him to the Eagles, as well.
Parker’s expertise lies in the secondary. In Denver, he helped develop star cornerback Pat Surtain, who eventually won Defensive Player of the Year last year. In Philadelphia, he was tasked with helping to develop corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean — their first two picks in the 2024 NFL draft. Both played an integral role in the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl run.
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See some of the reaction to the hire from around the nation below.
Wrote last week that the Cowboys wanted someone who was hungry to establish themselves, rather than hungry from redemption. The Christian Parker hire fits the bill.
Give the Cowboys credit: they casted a wide net and ultimately went in a direction they don’t normally go. https://t.co/WXGJPHVjAC
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) January 22, 2026
“I don’t think I’d be the player I am…without him.”
Cooper DeJean on Christian Parker, who appears to be in line for the Cowboys DC job, per @JFowlerESPN.
The respect Eagles defensive players have for him is evident. The success in the DB room speaks for itself. pic.twitter.com/EAD0P1CN55
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) January 22, 2026
Internally, the Eagles knew they were only renting Parker — he was going to get a bigger role sooner than later.
Wouldn’t surprise me if the same is said about the Cowboys. When I spoke to people about him and asked if he was a future DC, I got corrected: future HC. https://t.co/5mXFgzpcx9
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) January 22, 2026
The Cowboys did very well last year going outside of their comfort zone with Klayton Adams.
Their process here was MUCH better than when they rushed to hire Matt Eberflus. https://t.co/xqks0GfcST
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 22, 2026
Absolutely love that the Cowboys are deviating from their conventional norm with the Christian Parker.
The move may fail. I don’t think it will. But even if it does, I can (and we all should) totally be fine with that given that they actually tried.
Respect.…
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 22, 2026
Cowboys hiring of Christian Parker, solidifies to me, that Brian Schottenheimer, has bent the ear of Jerry & Stephen Jones completely and is firmly in control of shaping the football team in his image
Its now on the front office to give him the players he needs #DallasCowboys
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) January 22, 2026
The Cowboys pluck one from the Birds. Get it? Gotta trust it. The media likes it. A lot of the fanbase likes it. So I guess I’m here for it. Let’s rage. pic.twitter.com/CwRRAvYBFU
— Dave Sturchio (@DaveSturchio) January 22, 2026
It’s impossible to keep good coaches under the radar. Christian Parker’s ascension to a DC job this offseason was inevitable.
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) January 22, 2026
Staff writer Joseph Hoyt contributed to this post.
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