Parker has had stops in Denver and Philadelphia, and all reports are the same... the Cowboys got a stud.
When the Dallas Cowboys hired Christian Parker to be their new defensive coordinator to replace Matt Eberflus, the move was met with adulation.
The Cowboys got a young, hot-shot coordinator who has skins on the wall, developing some of the best young players in football, with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell in Philadelphia.
But let's not forget that Parker was also in Denver, and it was there that he crossed paths with star safety Justin Simmons.
We know what Parker brings to the table, learning from Vic Fangio, so offenses know the sort of scheme they will be going against, and it's tough.
But more than that, it's what Parker does from a player development standpoint, and Simmons, who was on The Schultz Report with Jordan Schultz, highlighted Parker's involvement in making corner Ja’Quan McMillan into a star contributor.
And that brings Simmons to Dallas rookie Caleb Downs and what Parker can do for him.
“I really liked that they got Downs,” Simmons said. “I think his versatility and what I know CP wants to run, because he comes from that Vic Fangio style, he’ll add his own flavor to it. His eye for detail and preparation, execution has to be some of the best I've seen.
"Caleb Downs having the chance to go to Dallas and it's not the fact that he went to Dallas, it's who he's going to be coached by, right? I think he's going to be a great addition. I don't know how they're going to use him. That's CP's job. But they're going to do really good job. So, Dallas should be excited, man. He's one of the best coaches I've had."
Parker and Downs, as a duo, are seen by some as the saving grace of the defense, and when you hear players who have been coached by Parker, like Simmons, talk about how much he's helped develop players and turn them into stars, it makes what he could do with Downs fascinating.
The attention to detail is something we've heard Cowboys players speak of often as OTAs have gotten underway, and it is clear things are moving in the right direction.
But many want to see what sort of player Downs will be for Dallas, with some thinking he could even wear the green dot in his rookie season, such is his football IQ.
Of course, we don't want to put too much pressure on Parker or Downs, but I get the feeling it's too late.
We know what Parker can and has done in the NFL, and pairing him with Downs has the potential to be very positive for the Cowboys in 2026.
