Cowboys say giving Christian Parker a new assistant in Mike Pettine isn't about saving woeful D – Spectrum News

Cowboys say giving Christian Parker a new assistant in Mike Pettine isn’t about saving woeful D  Spectrum News

The Cowboys' new senior assistant to defensive coordinator Christian Parker isn't a sign of panic, they say. FRISCO, Texas — Christian Parker had just been hired as a first-time defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys when the 34-year-old wanted to add Mike Pettine as an assistant, confidant and sounding board last winter. Now that Pettine is joining his staff with the Dallas defense five weeks into another woeful start, Parker won't concern himself with the perception that a longtime NFL coach is being called in to save the day. “I don’t really need to respond to it,” Parker said. “We know why. He needed some time off himself. And so I think that was the main reason he didn’t get onboarded in the spring or the winter, whatever month it was.

But the timing was right for both sides.” Pettine, who was the head coach in Cleveland a decade ago, said Friday he stuck with his decision to retire after the last of four seasons with Minnesota in 2025 for family and health reasons. Those included spending time with aging parents, recovering from shoulder replacement surgery and welcoming a fifth grandchild. The 60-year-old said his wife, Megan, suspected retirement might not last long. Sure enough, it ended soon after the couple spent three weeks in Italy. “My wife, when we