At a Glance
- Green Bay Packers will interview Eagles DB coach Christian Parker for defensive coordinator opening
- Parker also scheduled to interview with Dallas Cowboys this week
- Under Parker, rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean became first-team All-Pros in 2025
- Why it matters: Eagles could lose key coach who elevated pass defense to No. 8 ranking and developed elite cornerback duo
The Green Bay Packers are set to interview Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker for their vacant defensive coordinator position, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Parker, 34, has emerged as a hot commodity this offseason. The Dallas Cowboys have also scheduled an interview with him this week, making it increasingly likely the Eagles will lose their talented defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator.
The Opening in Green Bay
The Packers’ defensive coordinator job became available Monday when the Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. Ironically, Green Bay interviewed Parker for the same role in 2024 before ultimately hiring Hafley.
Since that interview, Parker’s credentials have only strengthened. His work with Philadelphia’s secondary has caught league-wide attention.
Building an Elite Secondary
In just two seasons with the Eagles, Parker has helped transform Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into Pro Bowl players and All-Pros. The Eagles have fielded one of the NFL’s best pass defenses under his guidance.
DeJean praised Parker’s impact after the season: “Yeah, man, I could say a lot of things about him. What he’s meant to me and Q, too. We’ve had a routine of me and Q go meet with him, two or three times a week just to go over the team we’re playing, talk about different looks. And I don’t think I’d be the player I am or I’d have the success that I’ve had without him.”
The second-year cornerback continued: “He’s poured a lot into me and Q too, ever since we got here. And I appreciate him for that. And not everybody notices him and he doesn’t get the recognition that I think he should. Him and coach (Joe) Kasper, what those guys mean to us in the DB room and how they coach, the intensity they bring, the passion they have for the game. It means a lot to us and doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Historic Rookie Development
The Eagles selected Mitchell and DeJean in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Parker immediately inserted them as rookie starters and elevated their games to elite levels by 2025. Both players earned first-team All-Pro honors that season.
Mitchell and DeJean became just the second cornerback duo in NFL history to be named to the All-Pro team in the same year. The Eagles hadn’t had an All-Pro cornerback since Lito Sheppard in 2004.
Pass Defense Results
Under Parker’s guidance, Philadelphia’s pass defense rankings tell the story:
| Season | Pass Defense Ranking |
|---|---|
| 2024 | No. 1 |
| 2025 | No. 8 |
While the 2025 ranking dropped slightly from the previous year’s top position, maintaining a top-10 pass defense with two second-year starting cornerbacks represents significant achievement.
Coaching Journey
Parker joined the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2024 under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Before Philadelphia, he spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he coached former Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II.
His NFL coaching career began with the Packers from 2019-2020 under head coach Matt LaFleur – the same coach who could become his boss again if Green Bay hires him.
Potential Impact on Eagles
Losing Parker would significantly impact Philadelphia’s defensive staff. Beyond his excellence as a position coach, Parker represents the ideal successor whenever Fangio decides to retire.
The Eagles invested heavily in their secondary through the draft, and Parker’s development of Mitchell and DeJean into elite players validates that strategy. His departure would leave big shoes to fill in a room that has become one of the team’s strengths.
Key Takeaways
- Christian Parker has emerged as a top defensive coordinator candidate after developing Philadelphia’s young corners into stars
- Two teams are actively pursuing Parker, with interviews scheduled for this week
- The Packers previously interviewed Parker in 2024, showing sustained interest in his coaching abilities
- Mitchell and DeJean’s historic All-Pro selections highlight Parker’s player development skills
- Philadelphia faces the real possibility of losing a coach who has become crucial to their defensive success
