NFL6d ago
Cowboys Hire Pettine as Senior Defensive Assistant
Dallas adds longtime coach to support first-year coordinator amid defensive struggles
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Hire Aims to Strengthen Struggling Unit
The Dallas Cowboys have added Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant to work alongside first-year coordinator Christian Parker. The move comes as the team seeks improvement for a group ranked 31st in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed through five games. Pettine, 60, brings experience from prior roles including assistant head coach with the Minnesota Vikings from 2022 to 2025 and defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers.
Connection Between Coaches Dates Back Years
Parker had reached out to Pettine about a similar position earlier in the year, though Pettine had initially stepped away from coaching. The pair previously worked together when Pettine gave Parker his first NFL role as a quality control coach in 2019. Pettine also spent the 2021 season as a senior defensive assistant with the Chicago Bears.
Defense Faces Multiple Challenges
The unit ranks last in run defense at 168.4 yards per game allowed, while opposing quarterbacks have completed 72.3 percent of passes against the Cowboys. The team has recorded zero interceptions and just five sacks. Dallas has allowed at least 20 points in each of the past 12 games. Parker, 34, oversees a relatively young staff, and the addition of Pettine is intended to provide broader perspective without position-specific duties.
Players Discuss Standards Internally
The defensive players held a meeting to review their performance and identify areas for improvement. Discussions focused on accountability and collective expectations moving forward.
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