The Dallas Cowboys are bringing in a reinforcement on the coaching staff to help defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
According to head coach Brian Schottenheimer on Monday, the Cowboys hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine to serve as a senior defensive assistant with the goal of helping Parker.
"Breaking news: Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer says they've hired Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant," Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reported.
"He's going to be in here to support (Christian Parker)," Schottenheimer said.
Parker and Pettine worked together during their time with the Green Bay Packers. In 2019 and 2020, Parker was a defensive quality control coach under Pettine, who was the defensive coordinator, a job Pettine held in 2018, also.
Why Cowboys hired Mike Pettine
The hiring of Pettine comes amid the Cowboys having serious struggles on the defensive side of the ball. Despite a total revamp of the defense, Dallas has one of the worst units in the NFL.
But it isn't just about the play on the field, as Parker has looked overmatched in his first year as a play-caller and it's very clear Dallas could use another voice in the defensive room to help Parker figure out how to right the ship.
Pettine is a good choice to be that guy thanks to his wealth of experience. It also helps that Parker is familiar with Pettine, which will make this a more comfortable situation for the defensive play-caller.
This move also amounts to an admission that, for whatever reason they may believe, the Cowboys fully realize that Parker needs help. We definitely can't be mad at that.
Mike Pettine's coaching experience
Pettine has extensive experience as a defensive coach in the NFL. He started as a coaching assistant with the Baltimore Ravens in 2002 before being promoted to assistant defensive line coach in 2004 and then outside linebackers coach in 2005.
He then served as the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets, Buffallo Bills and Packers in the years that followed. In between those stints, Pettine was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and a consultant with the Seattle Seahawks.
More recently, he was with the Chicago Bears as a senior defensive assistant in 2021, so he's familiar with his current role, and he was assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach with the Minnesota Vikings from 2022 through 2025.
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