Cowboys request to interview Eagles assistant coach for defensive coordinator
The search for the next defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys continues, as the team put in its eighth request for a candidate interview on Wednesday for Philadelphia Eagles defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker. The request was first reported by Jordan Schultz.
Parker, 34, is in his second season as an assistant for the Eagles after three seasons as the Denver Broncos defensive backs coach and two seasons as a defensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers.
Under his tutelage, the Eagles took two of the three cornerback spots on the AP All-Pro first-team with second-year players Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. He also helped bring Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II into the NFL in 2021 and assisted in Surtain’s AP All-Pro first-team honor in 2022. In three of his five seasons as a defensive backs coach, Parker has been a part of a top-eight passing defense.
Per an NFL rule change in 2020, the Eagles cannot block the Cowboys from conducting the interview as long as Parker is interested since he is an assistant and not a coordinator.
Parker is the eighth candidate that the Cowboys have shown interest in for their defensive coordinator opening. Previously reported interviews include Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, Vikings pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, former Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr and Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton.
The team attempted to interview Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, but the request was denied by Atlanta since he is still a sitting coordinator. If the new Falcons coaching staff decides not to retain Ulbrich, it is expected that he will interview with Dallas.
As laid out by the front office and head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team is looking for a coordinator who has teaching skills and has an emphasis on creating takeaways. Most of the candidates in the first week of the job opening have shown a proven track record or one or both categories.
