The Dallas Cowboys are clearly in the middle of a defensive reset - and frankly, it’s long overdue. After struggling to get stops all season, particularly following the surprising offseason trade of one of the league’s top edge rushers, the defense never really found its footing.
No matter how the coaching staff tried to patch things together, opposing offenses consistently found ways to move the ball and put up points. That inability to get off the field cost Dallas in critical moments and played a major role in their underwhelming finish.
In response, the Cowboys made a significant change at the top of their defensive hierarchy, parting ways with coordinator Matt Eberflus. In his place, they’ve brought in Christian Parker, the former Eagles defensive backs coach.
Parker is viewed as a rising star in coaching circles - a young, energetic mind with a reputation for developing talent in the secondary. His task in Dallas will be much broader, and the pressure will be immediate.
This defense doesn’t just need tweaks; it needs a full recalibration.
And the Cowboys aren’t stopping there. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team recently interviewed Texas Tech outside linebackers coach C.J.
Ah You for a defensive assistant role. Ah You, a former NFL defensive end himself, brings a blend of pro experience and collegiate coaching savvy.
He’s also reportedly on the radar of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are eyeing him for their own outside linebackers job.
This sets up a bit of a tug-of-war between two storied franchises. From a pure talent standpoint, the Steelers’ defense is more established right now - they’ve got blue-chip players at every level and a defensive culture that’s been built over decades.
But the Cowboys offer something different: the chance to be part of a rebuild, to help shape a unit that’s in the process of reimagining itself. For a coach like Ah You, who’s looking to make the leap to the NFL, that kind of opportunity can be just as enticing as joining a ready-made contender.
Regardless of whether Ah You ends up in Dallas, the Cowboys’ defensive staff is clearly still under construction. With free agency and the draft looming, the front office has a critical offseason ahead. The pieces are starting to move, and with Parker now leading the charge, the Cowboys are hoping to build a defense that can finally match the expectations that always seem to surround this team.
The question now is whether they can find the right mix of talent and coaching to make that happen.