Dan Quinn left as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator after the 2023 season to become the Commanders’ head coach. Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus each lasted one season after Quinn left.
The Cowboys ranked 31st in points and 28th in yards in 2024 under Zimmer and 32nd in points and 30th in yards in 2025 under Eberflus.
They hired Christian Parker, the Eagles’ passing game coordinator and secondary coach, as their defensive coordinator to fix what was broken. Still, the Cowboys entered Thursday night ranked 30th in total defense, including 31st against the run and 28th in points allowed.
The Cowboys allowed 419 yards, including 241 yards rushing, in a 24-16 loss to the previously winless Bucs, who were starting an undrafted rookie quarterback. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted it was a missed opportunity.
“That’s a question that I think all of us, if you’re a Cowboy fan, realize that patience really might not be the right term here. . . . I really like what we have. We missed a chance here to improve and we didn’t.”
This prompted questions about Parker’s job security.
“Premature,” Jones said.
Jones said he still has faith in Parker.
“Yeah. Yeah, yeah,” Jones said. “He’s sitting there taking it on his shoulders, which goes with the territory, but I feel like he’s competent and the things he’s trying to do, I’ll say it again: The thing that probably bothers me the most tonight is how they ran between the tackles, so to speak, and we’re able to get that run game going where we really have a lot of strength and have something like that.”
Cowboys defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley is the only assistant on the staff who previously served as a defensive coordinator. Ansley was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator in 2023.
Thus, the Cowboys will likely travel with Parker until at least the end of the season.
