The Philadelphia Eagles currently boast one of the NFL’s premier defensive units, and while veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio remains firmly in his role, changes could be coming to his coaching staff.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys have officially requested to interview Christian Parker, the Eagles’ defensive backs coach and pass-game coordinator, for their vacant defensive coordinator position, which once belonged to Matt Eberflus.

At just 34, Parker is considered a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks. Since joining the Eagles in 2024, he has played a pivotal role in the development of standout defensive backs like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, adding to a resume that already includes work with elite players such as Patrick Surtain II and Jaire Alexander. 

His success in nurturing young talent has made him a top target for teams like that of Jerry Jones, who are looking to revitalize their defense.

Looking at the last two seasons’ records, the Cowboys have struggled big time. They missed the playoffs twice and could only win seven games each year, resulting in a disappointing overall record of 14-19-1.

This period was marked by constant turnover in leadership, as the organization cycled through different head coaches (then Mike McCarthy and now Brian Schottenheimer) and defensive coordinators (then Mike Zimmer, now Matt Eberflus) in an attempt to find a way to reach the postseason playoffs.

The defense, in particular, failed to meet expectations despite being led by veteran coaches. Although both Zimmer and Eberflus had prior experience as head coaches, they were unable to improve the team’s performance.

By 2025, the defense had hit rock bottom in total yards allowed and finished last in points surrendered, giving up an average of 30 points per game. They also struggled to force turnovers and thus created an overwhelming situation for the offense that couldn’t recover from the slump.

Hence, Jerry Jones and the team head coach are looking to bring a solid change in the leadership and thus restructure the coaching roster ahead of the upcoming season.

Brian Schottenheimer minced no words about the Cowboys-Eberflus split

Dallas Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer took a blunt stance when explaining the team’s decision to fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. He identified the defense as the primary reason for the team’s struggles during a difficult season, calling the unit’s performance the “biggest pain point” for the organization.

“I just met with ‘Flus [Eberflus] early this morning,” he said to his staff on Jan 6. “Incredible human being. Love the man, but at the end of the day, the football wasn’t right.” 

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Eberflus was officially let go from the team on January 6, 2026, just two days after the regular season ended. The defense under his leadership failed to stop opponents on third downs and was unable to pressure the quarterbacks. The timing of his dismissal becomes significant as it has been only a year since Schottenheimer got promoted to the head coaching role.

Schottenheimer had previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator and was later brought in to provide a fresh perspective after McCarthy’s tenure ended with a disappointing playoff record.

Now, the head coach faces the challenge of finding a new defensive leader to fix the team’s most glaring weakness.