New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is filling out his coaching staff as the Dallas Cowboys move deeper into the offseason.
Just as EVP Stephen Jones predicted earlier in the week, Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker have gotten closer to finalizing their staff.
Following a "housecleaning" in recent days after Parker's hire, the Cowboys have found a replacement for one of their top assistant coaches.
CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reports that Dallas has reached an agreement with former Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith to assume the same job with the Cowboys under Parker.
In terms of the coaching personnel, Smith's hire continues a trend toward young, up-and-coming minds being trusted to lead the team. Schottenheimer, 52 years old and entering Year 2 as a head coach, will work with a first-year DC in Parker, 34, and a second-year offensive coordinator in Klayton Adams.
Now Smith, 32, enters the fold after spending three seasons with the Cardinals.
Dallas had interviewed Smith's former boss, Johnathan Gannon, for the defensive coordinator position before deciding on Parker. Gannon was fired by Arizona this offseason, leaving Smith in search of his next home.
The secondary coach now joins forces with a coordinator who also has experience working with defensive backs in the NFL. Smith's resume is highlighted by the Cardinals strong second half in 2024, where they ranked as the fourth-best defense in the league over the last 11 games.
During that span, the Cardinals opponents scored just 19.6 points per game. Arizona allowed the least total touchdowns (20) and passing touchdowns (10) in that stretch. Second-year cornerback Garrett Williams' improvements earned him second-team All-Pro honors by Pro Football Focus while under Smith's tutelage.
In 2025, Arizona finished the year with the 24th-ranked pass defense at 230 yards allowed per game through the air. Dallas gave up the most passing yards per game (251.7) and in total (4,276) this season.
Smith's hire returns him to the Lone Star State where he has prior coaching experience at the collegiate ranks. He got his coaching career started at UTSA in 2014 before connecting with Curt Cignetti at James Madison. Smith also has stints at Penn State, Elon, Virginia Tech and Northwestern.
Cignetti has since moved on to Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers to a national championship this season in his second year in Bloomington.
Also this week, the Cowboys have reportedly interviewed Zach Orr a second time, now inquiring about him as a linebackers coach instead of defensive coordinator. Orr, 33, is the former defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens under now-fired coach John Harbaugh.
Smith's hire is the latest proof that the Cowboys are serious about putting Schottenheimer & Co. in a position to make major changes to this defense.
Prioritizing a youthful perspective is clearly the methodology.