Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer had no doubt that Parker was the right choice as defensive coordinator.
The Dallas Cowboys' hiring of Christian Parker has been finalized for a few weeks now, but on Wednesday at The Star, it was the first time the media had a chance to speak with both Brian Schottenheimer and Parker.
Naturally, given his background in Denver and Philadelphia, Parker's hire was seen as a home run by several respected people in the industry, not to mention the players he had coached throughout his career.
That all led to Cowboys Nation feeling comfortable, and dare I say it, excited about what Parker could do with this defense.
Granted, the bar for excellence isn't set too high after last season's horror show, but Parker comes to The Star with something to prove, given it's his first coordinator job.
Parker detailed why he chose Dallas, highlighting the stellar offense to help lighten the pressure, not to mention the several key pieces on defense.
But that's Christian, what about Schotty?
What made Parker "the" guy he wanted leading the defense?
"The way he carries himself, he's wise beyond his years,” Schottenheimer said. “He's been preparing for this for the last four or five years. But man, every time we talk, we would get off a call and just be like, damn, I want more of that."
At just 34 years old, Parker is one of the younger coordinators in football, and while there is a risk attached to that, for Dallas and its fans, it was one absolutely worth taking.
Will there be bumps in the road? Of course, but the franchise went in a vastly different direction than it had in the last decade.
But Parker's vision for what he wanted the defense to be and his knowledge weren't the only things that impressed Schotty.
It was what he could do for players already on the roster.
"His ability to develop players is very obvious," Schottenheimer added. "You look at what he did in Denver involved with [Patrick] Surtain, in Philadelphia with Cooper DeJean and 'Quinyon]Mitchell.
"He’s done it, and ton of respect for Vic Fangio. He's cut his teeth under Vic, but he's not Vic. He's got his own convictions and beliefs, and that's what I love about the guy.”
So the hire, at least right now, appears to be a good one.
But again, the proof will be in the pudding, and the hope is that what Parker cooks up this offseason will taste a whole lot better than what was put on our plates last season.