Cowboys hire Mike Pettine as senior defensive assistant to help Christian Parker
Dallas added veteran defensive coach Mike Pettine to Brian Schottenheimer's staff as a senior defensive assistant. Pettine gave Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker his first NFL job in 2019 with the Packers
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The Dallas Cowboys made a notable addition to their coaching staff Monday, bringing in veteran defensive mind Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate): The #Cowboys have hired veteran NFL coach Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant. Pettine gave DC Christian Parker his first job in the NFL in 2019.
Pettine and Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker share a bond that predates this hire: Pettine gave Parker his first NFL opportunity in 2019, when Pettine was the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator. The two worked together for two seasons in Green Bay before Parker's rise through the coaching ranks to Dallas, where he now runs the defense under Schottenheimer.
Pettine, who had retired after last season following a stint with the Minnesota Vikings, brings a résumé that includes head-coaching experience (Cleveland Browns, 2014-2015), defensive coordinator roles with the Packers, Jets and Bills, and multiple seasons overseeing defenses that finished in the top ten in total defense. The hire was announced by Schottenheimer during his Monday press conference, with the head coach calling it a strong fit for the staff.
For a Cowboys defense that has struggled with consistency this season, Pettine's presence adds a seasoned set of eyes to Parker's room. The timing — arriving six weeks into the season with a Monday night trip to Green Bay ahead — gives Parker an experienced sounding board with intimate knowledge of the Packers' offensive philosophies.