The Dallas Cowboys only had Matt Eberflus as their defensive coordinator for one season.
After a flurry of interviews, the Cowboys are working to finalize a deal with their new DC, Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator Christian Parker, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Rapoport later posted that the deal is done.
NFL insider Josina Anderson added that the Cowboys are working to get the deal done in the “next day or so.”
The #Cowboys are working to hire #Eagles secondary coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, per me and @TomPelissero. The deal is not done, but hope is it will be.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 22, 2026
A rising young coach, he lands in a big spot with a rival. pic.twitter.com/05zOq9OcAh
Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean reacted to the news on X.
Mannnn😔. They got a great one wouldn’t be the player I am without Coach CP🫡 https://t.co/AyQycoOsPs
— Cooper DeJean (@cooperdejean) January 22, 2026
Parker is known as a rising star in the industry, and the 34-year-old has been coaching since 2022. He began his coaching career in 2013 as the defensive backs coach at Virginia State, and then had stops at Norfolk State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M before moving to the NFL.
Parker spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Green Bay Packers as their defensive quality control coach before spending three seasons with the Denver Broncos as the defensive backs coach. He spent the past two seasons with the Eagles, working with top DBs such as Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean.
The Cowboys cast a wide net for the DC opening, including Baltimore Ravens DC Zach Orr and recently-fired Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was the Eagles DC before going to Arizona.
Parker now stays in the NFC East and will get a big promotion.
