The Cowboys brought in veteran coach Mike Pettine as a senior assistant this week, raising questions about their confidence in first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
But hiring his mentor and former boss in Green Bay has been on Parker’s mind for a while. He reached out to Pettine when he first got the Cowboys’ DC gig, but the 60-year-old declined, citing a preference to stay with his family. Parker also talked to outgoing Falcons assistant head coach Jerry Gray, another veteran member of Pettine’s Packers staff, per Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, but Gray decided to follow Raheem Morris to San Francisco instead.
Months later, though, the Cowboys’ defensive struggles brought them back to Pettine. He cited his experience and a desire to help a friend in Parker as key motivators for his return to coaching.
“I have about a four-inch thick book of what not to do and a very thin one of what to do, so I think that’s key is being able to learn from others’ mistakes,” Pettine said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “As much as you think you’re prepared for it, you’re really not until you get into it. I think that’s where I’ll be able to help him.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones initially indicated that Parker would be moving up to the coaches’ booth to call plays, but Parker contradicted that on Wednesday, according to DLLS Sports’ Clarence Hill. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer then confirmed on Friday that Parker would remain on the sidelines, per Hill. Pettine said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic) that he will be “another set of eyes” in the booth and said the team’s defensive issues were “a lot of little things.”
Pettine was not on the field during the Cowboys’ practices this week, Archer adds. His early focus has been catching up on Dallas’ defensive film, but he has been attending meetings, per Machota. It remains to be seen if he will take a more active role once he is fully integrated into the staff.
Schottenheimer also revealed another wrinkle this week to 105.3 The Fan’s Bobby Belt: Pettine will report directly to him. Jones downplayed that aspect of Pettine’s hire, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News; additionally, given his relationship with Parker, this does not feel like a case where a veteran newcomer can undermine a young, first-time play-caller. The Cowboys are hoping that Pettine can help Parker drill down on the details, right the ship, and grow into his coordinator job at the relatively young age of 34.
