Scott Symons earns his first NFL coaching job after a solid run on The Hilltop with SMU. Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker continues filling out his new defensive staff.
The Dallas Cowboys are closing in on completing their new-look defensive staff for 34-year-old coordinator Christian Parker, and the latest signing follows a similar direction as the others: prioritizing youth.
Dallas is hiring a rising coach in the Metroplex with valuable play-calling experience at the college level. The team announced its plans to hire former SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons to be the Cowboys' new inside linebackers coach.
Symons, 40, joins the Cowboys after a resurgence on The Hilltop. The Mustangs reached their first College Football Playoff in 2024 under head coach Rhett Lashlee and posted nine wins again in 2025, including a decisive Holiday Bowl victory.
As cited by the Cowboys team website, Symons' Mustangs finished fifth in the country in turovers gained, fifth in red zone defense, and eighth in interceptions - three areas the young coach will be greatly focusing on improving in the Silver and Blue.
Like many on Parker's staff, this will be Symons' biggest career promotion as its his first coaching gig in the NFL. He spent more than two decades coaching in high school before making various college stops prior to landing in his role at SMU in 2022.
Ryan Smith (35 years old) has officially been hired as Dallas' cornerbacks coach after recently spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, and Derrick Ansley (44), formally of the Green Bay Packers, has officially signed with the Cowboys as a pass-game coordinator.
Next to Symons is Chidera Uzo-Diribe (33), Dallas' new outside linebackers coach, and assistant J.J. Clark (36). Replacing Aaron Whitecotton in charge of the defensive line is Marcus Dixon (41), a former Cowboy who held the same coaching title with the Minnesota Vikings this year.
A common denominator here? The youth - which can be equally exciting and concerning.
Typically, teams will control this uncertainty by hiring a consultant, of sorts, someone who's has experience in the league and can be a soundboard to bounce ideas off of.
We've seen in here in Dallas on offense - which is how head coach Brian Schottenheimer first got into the building - and it may be required on defense now, too.
The Cowboys have hired Robert Muschamp (29), brother of famed college coordinator Will, now back with the Texas Longhorns, after he was previously a "quality control coach" with the LA Chargers, but he will serve as an assistant secondary coach with Smith in Dallas.
One name we have as a consultant suggestion? The 74-year-old Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll.
For now, the Cowboys continue remodeling the defensive leadership like we've never seen before, helping give the youngest DC in franchise history "his guys" for 2026.