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’s 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 years old, Parker is considered a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks. Since joining Philadelphia 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’ record, the Cowboys have struggled. Missing the playoffs in each season. During this time, the team managed to win only 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 experienced 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 bottomed out, ranking near the very bottom of the league in total yards allowed and finishing last in points surrendered, giving up an average of 30 points per game. Because they also struggled to force turnovers, the struggling defense placed an overwhelming burden on the offense that proved impossible to overcome.

Hence, Jerry Jones is looking to bring in a solid change who can help change the team’s fate in the upcoming season. By now, we already know no matter who so ever gives up, Jones ’ vision to Cowboys on Top will never change. The Cowboys are now searching for new leadership to fix these issues. 

The team didn’t give up on Parker immediately; they actually tried to rebuild trust in his decision-making. However, the defense became the root of their problems. The struggles were clear early on when Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards against them in Week 2. While a small winning streak after Week 11 briefly restored faith in Matt Eberflus, the momentum didn’t last. After three straight losses and a blowout by JJ McCarthy and the Vikings, Eberflus’ fate was sealed. 

Check out what Brian Schottenheimer had to say about the Cowboys’ Eberflus exit

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently 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. “Incredible human being. Love the man, but at the end of the day, the football wasn’t right,” the head coach said to a staff that HBO’s Hard Knocks captured.

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 consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks, leading to a franchise-record number of points allowed.

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The team deciding to let go of him comes just one year after the Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy and promoted Schottenheimer 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, Schottenheimer faces the challenge of finding a new defensive leader to fix the team’s most glaring weakness.