Cowboys Announce 2026 Coaching Staff

New defensive coordinator Christian Parker hires his own staff, creating turnover on the defensive side.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 9:07am

The Dallas Cowboys have announced their coaching staff for the 2026 season, with the defensive side of the team seeing the most changes. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker has brought in a number of new assistants, including a secondary coach, pass game coordinator, and position coaches for the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary. The offensive staff remains mostly intact, with only two new additions as assistant offensive line coach/quality control and assistant wide receivers coach.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' coaching staff changes, particularly on the defensive side, will be crucial in determining the team's performance and direction for the upcoming season. Hiring a new defensive coordinator often signals a shift in scheme and philosophy, which can have a significant impact on the team's overall strategy and player personnel decisions.

The details

The Cowboys' new defensive staff includes Christian Parker as the defensive coordinator, Ryan Smith as secondary coach, Derrick Ansley as defensive pass game coordinator/DBs, Marcus Dixon as defensive line coach, Demeitre Brim as assistant defensive line coach, Chidera Uzo-Diribe as outside linebackers coach, Scott Symons as inside linebackers coach, and Robert Muschamp as assistant secondary coach. Assistant linebackers coach J.J. Clark will also return for a second season. On the offensive side, the team added Kyle Fuller as assistant offensive line coach/quality control and Stephen Bravo-Brown as assistant wide receivers coach.

  • The Cowboys announced the completion of their 2026 coaching staff on February 19, 2026.
  • The Scouting Combine took place less than a week prior to the announcement.

The players

Christian Parker

The Cowboys' new defensive coordinator.

Ryan Smith

The Cowboys' new secondary coach.

Derrick Ansley

The Cowboys' new defensive pass game coordinator/DBs.

Marcus Dixon

The Cowboys' new defensive line coach.

Demeitre Brim

The Cowboys' new assistant defensive line coach.

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The takeaway

The Cowboys' coaching staff changes, particularly on the defensive side, will be crucial in determining the team's performance and direction for the upcoming season. The new defensive coordinator and his staff will need to quickly establish a cohesive unit and implement their scheme effectively to ensure the Cowboys remain competitive in the NFC East.