Christian Parker taking it 'day by day' with Cowboys' defense - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — Christian Parker, the Dallas Cowboys' new defensive coordinator, is walking into a unit that finished last in the NFL in points per game allowed (30.1) and 30th in the league in yards per game allowed (377).

The Cowboys have needs at every level of their defense that will require additions through free agency and the draft. The rebuild looks daunting for a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

«Yeah, I don't think we want to put any expectations on it in that regard,» Parker said at his introductory news conference Wednesday. «I think we just want to kind of take it day by day and do it the right way. So we're kind of just taking that approach. We'll get our head out of the sand at some point, but right now we got tunnel vision on doing things the right way.»

At 34, Parker is the Cowboys' youngest coordinator in team history. He has been an NFL position coach since 2021 and served the past two years as the Philadelphia Eagles' passing game coordinator.

«I'm ready,» he said.

Parker spent time with one of the NFL's top defensive minds, Vic Fangio, with the Eagles and Denver Broncos. He broke into the NFL with the Green Bay Packers under Mike Pettine as a quality control coach in 2019.

«I think confidence comes from preparation and I think that I've been able to learn from the right people,» Parker said. «So I think when you've been involved with different people along my journey that I've learned under as head coaches and defensive coordinators, No. 1, and then the diversity in scheme that I've been involved with, you kind of become accustomed to what you're comfortable with and your own ideas. You like certain things, you don't like certain things. What will work, what won't