New Cowboys Rumors on 'Trust' in DC Christian Parker amid Struggles Compared to Matt Eberflus

Despite the Dallas Cowboys' early-season struggles defensively, the team reportedly still feels good about defensive coordinator Christian Parker.

Appearing on Fox NFL Sunday , Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer said the Cowboys "believe" in Parker unlike Matt Eberflus, who was the defensive coordinator last season:

Glazer said players didn't trust or like Eberflus' scheme last season, but they do like Parker's scheme and believe they will "mesh and jell" as the season goes on.

Through their first five games of the 2026 campaign, the Cowboys rank 31st in the NFL in total defense and 26th in scoring defense, allowing 27.2 points per game.

After giving up 30 or more points in three consecutive games, the Cowboys held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 24 on Thursday night, but they still lost the game 24-16 to fall to 2-3 on the year.

Tampa started an undrafted rookie quarterback in Jalon Daniels and still managed to rack up 419 yards of total offense on Dallas' defense.

Much of the damage was done on the ground, as the Bucs rushed for 241 yards, led by Bucky Irving with 165 yards.

The Cowboys' defensive shortcomings are nothing new, as they ranked 28th in total defense and 31st in scoring defense in 2024, and 30th in total defense and 32nd in scoring defense last season.

Parker is the Cowboys' fourth different defensive coordinator in the past four seasons, so a lack of continuity could have something to do with the issues on that side of the ball.

The 34-year-old Parker was a highly touted coaching candidate this past offseason after serving as the Philadelphia Eagles' passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2024 and 2025.

He helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl in 2024 and coached up defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to the point that they were both First Team All-Pro selections last season.

After acquiring talented cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, the Cowboys front office may be hopeful that Parker can work some similar magic with him.