Dallas Cowboys interviewing former defensive coordinator for position on staff
As the Dallas Cowboys continue to put their defensive staff together under new coordinator Christian Parker, they are scheduled to interview former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr and Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith, according to multiple sources.
Orr, who also interviewed for the defensive coordinator job in Dallas before the team hired Parker, has experience coaching alongside head coach Brian Schottenheimer in 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is also a native of DeSoto and a graduate of North Texas. He has since interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator job, as he continues to search for his new home after being relieved of his duties in Baltimore after two seasons.
As the Cardinals continue their search for a new head coach, Smith has been granted the freedom to interview with other teams. The Cowboys will bring him in as a result. Arizona has been Smith’s first NFL coaching job after he was hired in 2023 following nine seasons in the college ranks. During his time at the collegiate level, he spent three seasons (2017-2019) as an assistant under current Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, who is fresh off an undefeated national championship campaign.
Since the hiring of Parker, the team has also interviewed former New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin, Eagles assistant linebackers coach Ronell Williams and Minnesota Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon for positions on staff.
The team has relieved duties of three assistants, pass game coordinator Andre Curtis, cornerbacks coach David Overstreet II and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi. Defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton has also departed the team for the same position with the Tennessee Titans.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team hopes to have the coaching staff filled out in the coming days.
“The goal would be by the weekend,” Jones said. “Could it linger? It could. We’ve had a lot of great visits, and we got a lot of guys who are going to be coming in. We’ve made the next step that we want to bring them in here and get on board with them. Coach Schottenheimer and Christian will get in there and see what we can do with it, and hopefully we can get a lot of good coaches in here.”
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 6:27 PM.
