Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Cowboys add Mike Pettine as senior defensive assistant
The Dallas Cowboys are adding Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant to work with defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
The move comes after five games in which Dallas ranked 31st in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed.
The Cowboys have also allowed the most rushing yards per game, have not made an interception and have recorded five sacks.
Parker is in his first season as defensive coordinator, and Pettine gave him his first NFL coaching job in 2019.
Pettine has held several NFL coaching roles, including defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers and assistant head coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pettine can offer experience and help Parker study opponents and defensive adjustments.
The team says it had discussed bringing Pettine in for some time, and he is expected to support the defensive staff in his new role.
The Dallas Cowboys are bringing in Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant to work with defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
The move comes as the Cowboys’ defense ranks 31st in yards and 26th in points allowed through five games.
Pettine, 60, previously served as an NFL defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Parker is in his first season as defensive coordinator and previously worked with Pettine in Green Bay.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team had discussed adding Pettine for a long time.
- Who
- The Dallas Cowboys are hiring Mike Pettine to assist defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
- What
- Pettine will join the staff as a senior defensive assistant.
- When
- The hiring was reported on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The Dallas Cowboys, based in Frisco, Texas.
- Why
- The Cowboys are seeking to improve a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in yards and points allowed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Parker approached Pettine about joining the Cowboys' staff after Parker was hired.
Pettine served as a senior defensive assistant with the Chicago Bears.
Pettine served as assistant head coach with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys' decision to bring Pettine in as a senior defensive assistant was reported.
- Role
- Senior defensive assistant
- Defensive coordinator
- Christian Parker
- Cowboys' rank in yards allowed
- 31st through five games
- Cowboys' rank in points allowed
- 26th through five games
- Pettine's age
- 60
- Cowboys' run defense
- 168.4 yards per game
What people are saying
It's something we've been talking about for a long time
The most important thing for us was making sure we got the right guy, and I feel very, very confident that we did.
There were certain things I wanted from him that would be hard to see from the sideline, and he was always good with those things.
He was good at 'What can we do?' and 'What can't we do?'
Sources
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