OXNARD, Calif. — George Pickens has a suggestion for what the Dallas Cowboys should call their defensive coordinator.
The receiver was asked Thursday what he has learned about Christian Parker, who communicates with players on both sides of the ball during practice.
“Definitely competitive. I think that’s what we should start calling Christian Parker, competitive, because definitely that’s what he brings, and he can’t even play,” Pickens said. “But I love that out of a coach, especially for a defensive coordinator to get the defensive guys rolling.”
Pickens said the exchanges run both ways.
“He’s a funny guy, but you definitely want to try to show him up and compete yourself,” Pickens explained. “So we definitely always have fun talking to CP.”
Parker is 34 and the youngest defensive coordinator in franchise history. Dallas hired him Jan. 22 after nine candidates interviewed for the job and more than 40 for the defensive staff overall.
What Christian Parker Inherited
Dallas allowed 511 points last season, 30.1 per game, the most in the NFL. The Cowboys ranked 30th in yards allowed at 377 per game and finished last in passing yards allowed at 251.5.
Parker is the fourth defensive coordinator the Cowboys have had in four seasons. Dallas fired Matt Eberflus after the season.
He spent the previous two years in Philadelphia as passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, and the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX in his first season there. Before that he coached defensive backs in Denver from 2021 through 2023 and worked as a defensive quality control coach in Green Bay in 2019 and 2020.
He played wide receiver and cornerback at Richmond. His first job was coaching defensive backs at Virginia State in 2013.
Others Have Described Him The Same Way
Brian Schottenheimer called Parker an old soul with fire on Thursday and said the players have taken to him. Schottenheimer said Parker has to be the coordinator rather than just the play caller and the defensive backs coach.
Caleb Downs credited defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley with setting the tempo in meetings and secondary coach Ryan Smith with the technical detail. Ansley came from Green Bay and Smith from Arizona, both hired in January under Parker.
Downs also played Parker in the rookie show Wednesday night, wearing a sweatsuit, Jordans, and glasses, and telling jokes about Parker’s taste in music.
Jerry Jones was asked Thursday which players had stood out during camp and named the secondary among three groups, crediting communication for the improvement.
What George Pickens Did Last Season
Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns in his first Dallas season, career highs in all three. He made his first Pro Bowl, was named second-team All-Pro, and was the offensive MVP of the Pro Bowl on Feb. 3.
He is playing this year on a $27.3 million franchise tag, the only player in the NFL on one. He signed the one-year tender on April 29.
Thursday closed the Oxnard portion of camp. Dallas plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and holds open practices at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26.
The preseason ends against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. CT.
