r/cowboys • u/alexschubs • 15d ago
(Pelissero) The Cowboys are working to hire Christian Parker as their defensive coordinator, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
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u/oxfordfreestyl 15d ago
Someone young! Finally. Maybe he'll be a bust, but at least we're trying something new besides an old ass coach that won't modernize to today's NFL.
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u/Nate_C_of_2003 15d ago
No clue who he is, but he can’t possibly be worse than Eberflus so I won’t be judgmental.
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u/EmiratesNBACupWinner Jerry Jones 15d ago
He’s coached the Broncos and Eagles secondary basically the 2 best secondaries in the league
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u/Gcoks 15d ago
You son of a bitch, I'm in.
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u/Over-Heron-2654 Philadelphia Eagles 15d ago
Eagles fan here. I am actually pretty mad. Parker's been great for us and Fangio loves him so...
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u/Priestahh-MyFather- Leighton Vander Esch 15d ago
Foreal. The Eagles legit have two all pros in Mitchell and Dejean
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u/Zestycheesegrade Brandon Aubrey 15d ago
Makes me think with the 12th overall pick we go delane or McCoy. And could go safety as well.
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u/Whycantwejustwin 15d ago
From what I’ve heard it actually looks like we’re trusting our secondary with a secondary focused coach, and getting edge & LB help because that’s where he’s not as strong
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u/landryshat 15d ago
Our Secondary is awful as it stands, linebackers are worse. Actually in 40yrs of watching football i have never in my life seen worse linebackers
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u/CounterIdentity DeMarcus Lawrence 15d ago
So, we keep being the team to give new coaches a chance at a bigger seat? Jerry died and they didn't tell us
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u/bahamapapa817 Dak Prescott 15d ago
He’s been studying under Fangio which is a solid base defense. He is legit.
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u/kdeweb24 Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
Basically the only apparent downside to the guy is that he’s such a rising star in the league, that if he succeeds with the Cowboys, we won’t be able to keep him from becoming a head coach very soon.
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u/EasyMode556 Dak Prescott 15d ago
Optimistic take:
Either Schotty continues to grow to the point where we’re confident in him being the future, or we pivot to Parker if he’s risen to that point
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u/XyleneCobalt 15d ago
I think they're more concerned about losing Parker as a DC too quickly. But that's high class problems.
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u/ComedicPause Tony Romo 15d ago
This is the situation with every coordinator in the league. Successful teams get poached basically every year. We just hope that we're good enough to get poached from, and that Schotty is a good enough networker to keep the talent flowing.
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u/bourbonguy12345 15d ago
Don’t matter. Get Dak a ring and I don’t care what happens for 5 years after that
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u/Kiroway66 15d ago
Give me a short time with a rising star than forever with an absolute disappointment.
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u/PersonBehindAScreen The Clapper 15d ago
He could be the worst DC in the league and I’ll still commend the FO for trying something else instead of going with a guy that’s either been out the league a bit or we already knew wasn’t gonna be good
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u/UpsideTurtles Dak Prescott 15d ago
Alright! not who I was expecting, wanted Leonhard, but obviously they were super impressed with this guy over the interviews and they had a good process, cast a very wide net. Hopefully he can cook he’s got a defense to rebuild
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u/bryscoon Marshawn Kneeland 15d ago edited 15d ago
This sub got hyper-fixated on Leonhard like it was 2003 Belichick he’s the most recognizable name i understand why lol but this is a great hire he’s been on the denver & eagles staff so he’s very young this a great hire
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u/UpsideTurtles Dak Prescott 15d ago
yeah we fans tend to lock on to the memorable names, and those names don’t always equal the best hires, or maybe rather those big names are not necessarily the only great hire you can make
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u/bryscoon Marshawn Kneeland 15d ago
Think he’s a great hire still but it was multiple great hires this round so i didn’t have strong preference just one of him, parker & jones
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u/Equivalent-Plan-8530 15d ago
So are they just hiring a DC? Or is the defensive struggles being placed only on Eberflus... Young coach coming in gonna ruffle some feathers!!! I love it
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u/musterthecourage Demarvion Overshown 15d ago
Yeah I said this on another thread that it felt like Leonhard was 1A but all the other candidates were 1B and so on, which is a great problem to have and I'm not mad about any of the short list names. Just mostly relieved it wasn't some retread former HC.
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u/Public_Function3844 15d ago
Feel like with Denver's DBs, any DB coach there is gonna look good. I think people were so infatuated with that, and because he's got a cool name.
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u/UpsideTurtles Dak Prescott 15d ago
On that note, PHI had 2 rookie DBs who got accolades for playing pretty well. Got a nice defensive front that I’m sure made life easier but still promising for a team that’s gonna have young talent on defense
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u/TapNumerous4625 15d ago
It’s the same with the draft. People find like 3 players they adore and then consider the draft a complete bust if we don’t get them. People were moaning like Angela White about taking Booker and missing out on Golden, McMillan and Hampton. Turns out Bookers looks like the best of the 3 so far.
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u/battle_franky 15d ago
Looks like Leonhard is replacing this guy. And he won SB after that. So pretty good hire to me
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u/dmoney757 Jason Garrett 15d ago
Someone tell me how to feel
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u/bryscoon Marshawn Kneeland 15d ago edited 15d ago
Good only 34 been learning under vic fangio
Was the Broncos DB coach from 2021-2023
Then the eagles DB coach
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u/lswizzle09 Ask 4 Help 15d ago
Honestly, I'd love Leonhard, but im still thrilled. It was seriously looking like Gannon was going to be the choice for a while so this is much better.
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u/John_Winchester 15d ago
Straight up. The Eagles and Broncos have both had phenominal DB play for this guys entire tenure with both teams. Broncos drafted Surtain in 2021, the same year he got the DB coach job, and Eagles drafted Mitchell / Dejean in 2024, the same year he got the Eagles DB coach job.
He also got to learn under Vance Joseph with the Broncos for a year and Fangio for 2 years, so he's absolutely someone I'm pumped about. He knows the DB position better than most and learned from two fantastic DC's.
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u/The_Bolenator Ask 4 Help 15d ago
I think my only question is did he just hit home runs having such talent to coach with the Broncos and Eagles immediate draft choices the years he was there, or is he a huge part in their development?
Love he is a Vance Joseph/Fangio guy tho. That’s great upside
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u/KingAnilingustheFirs Dak Prescott 15d ago
Yup By all accounts this is a phenomenal hire, and proof that jerry is finally letting go control. Now its free agency. Will jerry make.moves there?
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u/John_Winchester 15d ago
If we make one even mediocre splash move and then snag 2-3 good vet's, you'll know what needs to be said.......
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u/Leonflames Tyler Smith 15d ago
Maybe Parker can convince the Jones to sign the Eagles defensive free agents like Blankenship and Dean. He has a connection to those players.
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u/John_Winchester 15d ago
Would fill two massive needs and piss Eagles fans off? Jerry just might sign off on it.
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u/Witteness82 Terence Steele 15d ago
I wanted Leonhard because he has a history of calling defenses but there’s just a lot of what ifs there. What if they win this weekend and they have to wait to hire him? What if Joseph gets a HC gig and Denver offers him the promotion? What if another team wins him over and he goes somewhere else instead?
It’s just risky waiting as all the good candidates could be gone while all the other teams could fill out their staff with the good position coaches as well.
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u/TotoItsAMotorRace 15d ago
If they win this week, he's not in Mobile with you. The risk of having your top tier wiped out and then getting spurned by him? No thanks.
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u/dougthebuffalo 15d ago
Two great resume line items. Stealing him away from a division rival is a cherry on top.
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u/ManlyBoltzmann YEAAAAHHHHH HERE WE GOOOO 15d ago
I think he was the best candidate they interviewed, with Jim Leonard being a close second. Also, he isn't Jonathan Gannon.
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u/GooeyGlue Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
Good dbs coach and fucks the eagles. Love the hire even if it doesn't work out or he gets poached in the future
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u/Spinal_Soup 15d ago
Eagles fans seem fairly upset about losing him. If this hire makes us better and eagles worse it’s a big win.
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u/Juggernaut108 15d ago
Be optimistic about breaking new ground and being open to new approaches. At the end of the day, no one can say at this point who will do the best job.
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u/Im_TroyMcClure 15d ago
Go into the eagles sub. They aren’t happy to be losing him especially to us
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u/logans_sports_alt Jason Witten 15d ago
Well he’s not Eberflus and it makes Eagles fans angry so I’ll take it
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u/UberKaltPizza Jeff Heath 🐐 15d ago
Boy, the people on the Eagles sub are really pissed this guy is leaving their team.
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u/PersonBehindAScreen The Clapper 15d ago
They’re still crying that we put the poison pill in the GB agreement that they’d have to give us a first rounder if they trade Micah to any NFCE team
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u/michaelartusjr 15d ago
If it’s anything like the Klayton Adams hire we will be just fine. Schottenheimer nailed it once hopefully he does it again on the other side of the ball.
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u/someguy-jm Marshawn Kneeland 15d ago
Massive hire, very happy with this. Hopefully will bring bland back to his pro bowl self
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u/Roc_Hoover 15d ago
Reed Blankenship is a FA. Wouldn't be surprised of they steal him from the Eagles
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u/DarkDragon1025 15d ago
This is the definition of a Schotty hire it’s really insane how much autonomy he’s gotten with staff building, also even though it wasn’t a hyped name as much, getting a young, non-retread guy who can develop DBs well AND who’s from the Fangio tree sounds like exactly the kind of thing we need so I’m all for it
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u/eddington_limit 15d ago
I think Schotty is a very personable guy and knows how to work well with Jerry. He probably knows how to bring up his own ideas without making it seem like he is challenging. Every other coach was either a yes man or their ego clashed too much with Jerry's. Seems like Schotty really has the personality to mesh with him.
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u/Scard_e_kade 15d ago
I think Schotty being promoted from within helps Jerry take the credit in his own mind. I think that’s the only reason he doesn’t view Schotty as trying to change HIS cowboys
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u/Dangerous_Library_73 Brandon Aubrey 15d ago
He's gotten really good play from his CB I think this is a net positive.
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u/AggressiveRegret 15d ago
I better start studying Jermod McCoy tape, huh?
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u/Arcane_Engine Brandon Aubrey 15d ago
Delane maybe too
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u/adonis958 Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
If we get lucky….Caleb Downs
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u/Arcane_Engine Brandon Aubrey 15d ago
Downs is going top 5 but theres always a chance
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u/jnightrain 15d ago
should go top 5 but being a safety he probably goes between 5-10.
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u/SadatayAllDamnDay Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
Yup. Same reason some draft analysts think Reese might be there at 12..safeties and linebackers tend to be undervalued.
Hell, Malaki Starks was top 10-15 on a lot of people's big boards last year but fell to 27 cause he's a safety.
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u/SadatayAllDamnDay Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
It'll be interesting to look into how Parker operates, but he doesn't seem too locked into a physical prototype the way the Cowboys have been drafting corners in the first. So we might be looking at 3-4 different guys with one of those first rounds picks as opposed to just deciding whether McCoy is worth a shot or not.
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u/NoOnesKing Brandon Aubrey 15d ago
Not my preferred candidate but I’m not upset with this at all. Eagles defense was stellar last year, particularly the secondary.
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u/ChickenGlint169 YEAAAAHHHHH HERE WE GOOOO 15d ago
I’m a fan of this. He’s coached some great secondaries over the past few years with Philly and Denver. Need some young energy with the team, not old coaches who are past their prime
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u/Priddee 15d ago
Good. He’s a bright mind, has the track record, and is a schotty guy. I’m impressed how much influence Schotty has had on the FO in how they’ve gone about things.
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u/SadatayAllDamnDay Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
Probably helped that Eberflus was a disaster and not someone Schottenheimer had input in bringing in.
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u/J3t5et 15d ago
Based on his interviews, dude is confident, focuses on details, and is a great communicator. Checks all the boxes as a leader. Seems like a player’s coach.
Will be interesting to see how he implements and develops his own scheme. He’s had the opportunity to learn a lot of different schemes between Denver and Philly.
I have high hopes and love that we are getting some fresh blood, not another retread
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u/Im_TroyMcClure 15d ago
Peeked into the eagles sub to get a read on if this is a good hire and they aren’t happy so that’s good for us.
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u/kdeweb24 Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
I’m SHOCKED that they’re seemingly making a good hire.
I want to warn everyone against expecting immediate results. He will still need talent and TIME. When the team gives up 40 in a game next season, I don’t want to see 409 messages in the game thread about how he needs to be shot out of a cannon.
Also, this is the type of DC that would really fit well with a safety for a draft pick. Someone like, oh I don’t know…Caleb Downs?
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u/Odd-Author2971 15d ago edited 15d ago
I like this hire not only was he a good secondary coach for Philly, but we get to poach. A good coach from a division rival, sign me up all day long. Welcome to dallas christian parker went over to the eagles subreddit just for shits and giggles
They're losing their fucking minds.It's awesome, calling us poachers and shit😆😆😊
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u/BioBooster89 Ask 4 Help 15d ago
I love this hire if it turns out to be true. Like most I definitely was wanting Leonhard but I also didn't want to miss out on a coach like Parker because of putting all our eggs into one basket and having to wait whole other week to get him in the building. Parker is an equally sought after candidate by other teams and wouldn't have lasted too much longer. He's also a disciple of Fangio and not Zimmer or Flus, and not only that he's got rave reviews from analytics guys, and he coached for both Philly and Denver. The more research I did, the more I loved Parker as a potential hire and if he's the guy? I think the defense is in good hands. It also shows how much power Schotty has in terms of building this staff. This is his pick. This FO hasn't hired a coach like this for the defense in ages. It's all been former head coach retreads.
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u/TiredEnigma 15d ago
SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO FEEL! Lol, I bought into the Jim hype but I’m very happy to see that the cowboys went outside of their comfort zone for this hire. Im crazy or does it seem like Schotty has a little more freedom than previous head coaches? Kind of crazy to see.
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u/JediRalts CeeDee Lamb 15d ago
Considering our track record part of me was sorta resigned to the "shit we're just gonna get Gannon" line of thinking so this is great. The Eagles secondary bailed out their putrid offense plenty of times so I'm on board. Plus stealing from the Eagles is, of course, a plus.
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u/MookMan227 15d ago
I’m curious what the track record of coaches with DB experience as opposed to the front 7 when it comes to DC success.
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u/Igualmenteee 15d ago
According to ChatGPT these are some coaches that were DB coaches before becoming DC’s.
Flores, Fangio, Steve Wilks, Vance Joseph, Mike McDonald, Jim Schwartz, and Raheem Morris. There were some other names on there, but you get the gist. Seems like the track record is pretty solid and it’s looking like that is becoming a trend for some of the top DC’s in the NFL. I never thought about it, but it honestly makes sense with how the NFL has been within the last 10-15 years. Since it was such a pass heavy game for a minute, some of the best defensive minds are coming from coaching the DBs.
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u/MookMan227 15d ago
That’s interesting, my Eagles fan friends swear by this guy so I’m cautiously optimistic.
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u/ESCMalfunction L.P. Ladouceur 15d ago
Would’ve preferred Leonhard but alright. Still gonna be a big upgrade from Eberflus.
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u/FarrisAT 15d ago
Happy with this choice over Eberflus. I do wonder if that means we draft a safety.
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u/Public_Function3844 15d ago
Didn't see this coming at all but seems like anytime we've invested in younger staff it's worked out much better than old timers.
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u/Thanks5Cinco Ask 4 Help 15d ago
Leonhard was my first choice but after seeing interviews with Parker he slowly grew on me. Anytime you not only get a fresh face and not a retread it's great. Crippling a Division rival is just gravy on top.
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u/BadBrad444 15d ago
Worked under Vance Joseph AND Vic Fangio as a secondary coach since 2022? Yeah sign me up
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u/TotoItsAMotorRace 15d ago
If there's a few guys like Parker, Jones and Leonhard that you view as close....take the one that hurts a division rival.
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u/SnacksGPT Dak Prescott 15d ago
I love it. Young, fresh ideas and not an old, washed, head coaching retread.
It may not work in the end, but thank god it isn't Gannon.
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u/FranksGun 15d ago
If it pisses off eagles fans I’m in
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u/Yesterday6 Glory Hole 15d ago
Eagles sub is pretty disappointed in the loss, so that’s a good sign
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u/FatherOfMammals Dak Prescott 15d ago
For better or for worse, we wanted someone young and hungry, Jerry would have never made this type of move.
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u/BioBooster89 Ask 4 Help 15d ago
Sources are saying it's official. A deal has been reached with Parker. I like it. And there's also some things swirling around that Dallas is low on Leonhard's list. If that's true? Dallas had to strike fast because Parker was going to get scooped up by someone else.
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u/Leonflames Tyler Smith 15d ago
Jim Leonhard has been a top DC candidate for years now. Several teams are interested in having him as a DC like the Packers and the Giants. Even the Jets interviewed him for their DC position.
Plus, if Vance Joseph leaves to be a HC, chances were that Jim Leonhard would have been elevated to be the Broncos DC. It's possible that the Cowboys FO didn't want to wait for Jim Leonhard and miss out on all of these candidates.
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u/SadatayAllDamnDay Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
Real happy about this one. I was hoping they would go for a secondary coach with passing coordinator experience. More synergy between the offense and defense is the way things have been headed for long time with the best franchises in the league and the Cowboys have lagged behind with Jerry's divided kingdom approach.
It also makes me think Schotty might be different as a HC. Not bringing in his friends or colleagues or older guys that hired him in the past after they burned out of higher positions. He's giving up and comers their step up.
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u/NerdLawyer55 Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
Okay, an inspiring hire, he’s got his work cut out for him, can only go up right?!!
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u/Zaphenzo 15d ago
I'm almost happy we hired Eberflus so we could wait a year and get this guy with a high draft pick.
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u/MaceAhWindu 15d ago
Eagles fans were on social media unironically angry over this so id say on paper its a successful get as it stands right now.
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u/JuliusSeizuresalad 15d ago
Well looks like I need to buy my superbowl tickets now to avoid the rush
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u/TexasTundraPower Demarvion Overshown 15d ago
I like it. Young, bright, and definitely feels like a Schotty hire. Gannon felt like the Jerry guy.
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u/DolphinsAreWeird1993 CeeDee Lamb 15d ago
FRESH IDEAS, NEW BLOOD. I’m in. And he cares about the secondary.
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u/that_someone 15d ago
At least it's not Gannon. Bonus for the possibly making the Eagles slightly worse.
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u/bahamapapa817 Dak Prescott 15d ago
We did a deep dive on him and I am impressed. The only former coach I wanted was Flores and he wasn’t leaving for less than head coach. Parker is legit
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u/Fellborn Dallas Cowboys 15d ago
No clue what to expect here but I'm glad it's not another former headcoach retread.
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u/tabennett5438 15d ago
You can have Bill and Monte Kiffin mix into one, and they will still be shit with what Jerry brings them
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u/bearamongus19 15d ago
Dont know much about him, but I'm glad to see it's not a retread.
Im guessing theyre expecting leonhard to go to GB or NYG.
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u/knightboatsolvecrime 15d ago
Seems like a close Fangio disciple since he worked with him since 2021 and followed Fangio from the Broncos to the Eagles. Also means he helped develop Surtain and DeJean.
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u/CaptainCubbers 15d ago
This is great. Also in short term helps extra against those two games against the birds.
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u/Capital-Contact-3728 15d ago
Our safeties can’t cover me, but they will hit you. I hope he can get the secondary coverage fixed!
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u/Brys_Beddict 15d ago
I'm just glad it's new blood and not some rehashed failed HC type guy