Cowboys Hire Former NFL HC to Defensive Staff amid Struggles with Christian Parker on Hot Seat

Amid a rough start to the 2026 campaign, the Dallas Cowboys are bringing some help to their defensive coaching staff.

Per ESPN's Todd Archer, the team is hiring veteran coach and former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Mike Pettine, to the defensive staff.

Pettine has been a coach in the NFL since 2002, first working with the Baltimore Ravens before taking over as the New York Jets' defensive coordinator in 2009. He spent a season as the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 before landing his first head coaching job with the Browns in 2014.

His sole stint as a head coach didn't go well, as he missed the playoffs in both seasons before being fired after the 2015 campaign.

Pettine was the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020, where he worked with Christian Parker, the current defensive coordinator of the Cowboys.

Most recently, Pettine was the assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He retired from coaching after the 2025 campaign, but will now head back to work for Dallas.

The hiring comes amid a 2-3 start for the Cowboys, whose defense has shown little improvement from last year. Dallas ranks second-to-last in yards allowed per game (395.4) and has given up the seventh-most points per game (27.2).

The team acquired star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this month, but he missed Thursday's game due to illness. He should be a difference-maker once he settles in, but he may not be enough to completely turn things around for the Cowboys.

After losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, the Cowboys, joined by their newest coaching hire, will look to get back on track against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.