Updates: Cowboys to introduce Parker on Wed.

Dallas Cowboys
18 Feb 2026, 21:41 GMT+10

DallasCowboys.com

Feb. 18

Christian Parker

Defensive Coordinator

College: Richmond
Hometown: Richmond, VA

10:00 a.m. --At 3:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, the Cowboys will hold new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's introductory press conference.

It'll be the first time that Parker has spoken to the media in his new role, as the Cowboys hired the 34-year-old and first-time DC to be their shot caller on defense nearly a month ago. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer will join Parker in the press conference.

To watch along, visit any of the Cowboys' media channels likeYouTube,X, or right here on DallasCowboys.com.

Feb. 13

Kyle Fuller

Assistant Offensive Line/Quality Control

College: Baylor
Hometown: Duncanville, TX

11:45 a.m.Having lost Ramon Chinyoung Sr. in this year's coaching cycle, the Cowboys were immediately in need of hiring an assistant offensive line coach.

They've now made the decision to grant Kyle Fuller the position, one of only two offensive hires in this cycle, thus far, joining Stephen Bravo-Brown on Schottenheimer's side of the ball. The 31-year-old knows a thing or two about what it takes to play offensive line in the NFL, considering he did so for quite a while, and for a total of six different teams.

His decision to hang up his cleats led him to the coaching ranks for Appalachian State University in 2024, in the same role of assistant offensive line coach, and this marks a homecoming for the former Baylor Bear that earned a two All-Big 12 selections in his time there.

Fuller will report directly to offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and offensive line coach Conor Riley.

Feb. 5

Solomon Thomas

#90

Height: 6-2
Weight: 285 lbs
College: Stanford

10 p.m.Though he wasn't named as the Walter Payton Man of the Year for the 2025 season, Solomon Thomas' impact in the community remains felt, and in a major way.

Thomas, a finalist for this year's honor, leads TheDefensive Line, a charity that focuses largely on bringing awareness and expanding resources for those who struggle with mental health a cause that truly hit home for many with the loss of Marshawn Kneeland.

"When you look at the statistics of mental health and when kids start dying by suicide or start struggling with mental health, they start ages as early as late elementary school, fifth, sixth grade. These are the age groups that are coming to my camp," Thomas said of The Defensive Line. "Some of them might be high anxiety kids, high stress kids, they may feel like life can never calm down. So teaching them how to meditate and be centered is something that I want to do for them."

"It's always been my favorite part just to see kids try it for the first time and try to breathe and close their eyes. And it may be a little weird or awkward the first time, but you get more of a hang of it and it can be a really useful tool. I just try to pass on tools and resources to them just like I was given later in my life, just so they can get it earlier."

Jake Ferguson

#87

Height: 6-5
Weight: 244 lbs
College: Wisconsin

9:15 p.m.Jake Ferguson was named a finalist for the 2025 Salute to Service Award.

The honor was awarded to Christian McCaffrey, his second of the night at NFL Honors, also being named NFL Comeback Player of the Year over Dak Prescott.

The two-time Pro Bowler was recognized this season by his teammates and colleagues as one who does all he can to help further and expand the resources for military veterans both locally and worldwide.

To that point, Ferguson has partnered with USAA, visits local bases and is an active advocate of the National Medal of Honor Museum, opening in March 2025 in Arlington, not far from AT&T Stadium.

Dak Prescott

Height: 6-2
Weight: 238 lbs
College: Mississippi State

8:45 p.m.Dak Prescott entered NFL honors as a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year.

The All-Pro quarterback did not walk away with the award, however, the NFL voters giving the honor to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, but Prescott did all he could to earn it in 2025. Dak finished third behind McCaffrey and Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson.

Returning from a hamstring that was torn off the bone midway through the 2024 season, Prescott went on to miss the remainder of that season before putting himself, at one point, in the MVP conversation this past season.

Also surpassing Tony Romo as the Cowboys' all-time leading passer, Prescott was a key reason the Cowboys remained relevant despite their defensive struggles, and took the field for all 17 regular season games.

Feb. 4

Stephen Bravo-Brown

Assistant Wide Receivers Coach

College: South Florida
Hometown: North Lauderdale, FL

1:30 p.m.- To this point, the Cowboys have been solely focused on constructing the defensive coaching staff but, with the departure of Tiquan Underwood, there was an immediate vacancy behind Junior Adams to help mold the wide receivers in Dallas.

Bravo-Brown, a former receiver at South Florida, joins the Cowboys after six seasons with the Browns, beginning there as a defensive quality control coach in 2020, before ultimately being named assistant wide receivers coach in 2025.

He also brings a wealth of special teams knowledge, three seasons as an assistant special teams coach in Cleveland under his belt.

Underwood joined the Cowboys in 2025, having previously performed in the same role for the Patriots in 2024.

Feb. 3

George Pickens

Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs
College: Georgia

10:32 p.m.- George Pickens, one of eight Cowboys to participate in the Pro Bowl Games this week in San Francisco, was named Offensive MVP of the Flag Football challenge, lifting the NFC to a 66-52 comeback win.

Pickens, who caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown, scored a go-ahead TD from a Dak Prescott pass midway through the fourth quarter, lifting the NFC in front. After an interception by Tampa Bay's Antione Winfield, who was named Defensive MVP, the NFC put the game away with a clinching score by CeeDee Lamb, from a pass from Philly's Jalen Hurts.

Other Cowboys who were on the NFC squad were Tyler Smith, Brandon Aubery, KaVontae Turpin, Quinnen Williams and Jake Ferguson.

Pro Bowl MVP should put a capper on a breakout season for Pickens, who was also second-team All-Pro. He's considered the top free agent player in the entire NFL and obviously a big priority for the Cowboys to re-sign this offseason. Earlier this week,Pickens said he "would love to" come back to the Cowboys with a new contract.

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Feb. 2

Will Grier

#15

Height: 6-1
Weight: 220 lbs
College: West Virginia

4:30 p.m.Will Grier will continue his journey with the Dallas Cowboys.

The veteran quarterback was signed to afutures/reserves deal on Monday, ensuring he will not be a free agent when the new league begins in mid-March, allowing him to continue competing for the backup role behind Dak Prescott.

Grier is no stranger to competing in Dallas. He rejoined the club in 2024 after an emotional departure in 2022, one that followed the trade to acquire Trey Lance, serving as direct competition to Joe Milton in 2025.

As the Cowboys look to continue their development of Milton, Grier's window to remain an option behind Prescott stays open for 2026 the most experienced of the two backup quarterbacks in Dallas.

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Jan. 28

Lunda Wells

Tight Ends

College: Southern
Hometown: Baker, LA

10:30 a.m.Lunda Wells is preparing for yet another interview during this year's offseason hiring cycle.

The incumbent Cowboys' tight ends coach has been with the organization since 2020, but as January 2026 nears its conclusion, Wells will interview with a third team for its vacant offensive coordinator position the New York Jets.

Wells previously interviewed with both the Washington Commanders and the Pittsburgh Steelers, having pre-existing relationships with Dan Quinn and Mike McCarthy, respectively.

The news arrives just one day after Wells successfully led his team to victory in the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl as a head coach, putting his aggressive playcalling on full display in the process.

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Jan. 23

7 p.m.The hiring of Christian Parker as the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator shifts the teams focus to the defensive assistants and position coaches for 2026 and beyond.

Aaron Whitecotton, the current defensive line coach, interviewed for the role of defensive coordinator before the role was awarded to Parker, and is now expected to interview with Robert Saleh and the Tennessee Titans for the same role.

With there being a chance Whitecotton leaves for a promotion elsewhere, the Cowboys will likely see to interview for the possible vacancy, though it is to-be-determined who that might involve and when it would take place.

Whitecotton is viewed as a top defensive mind in the NFL, and was critical to Dallas acquiring names such as Solomon Thomas, James Houston and All-Pro tackle Quinnen Williams in 2025.

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Jan. 19

11:10 a.m. --Next week, NFL front offices, scouting departments and coaching staffs will all converge on Mobile, Alabama for the 2026 Senior Bowl, where some of college football's up and coming draft prospects will look to improve their draft stock with strong performances in front of teams that could draft them.

There will be three Cowboys assistants that will be looking to help them on the National team's coaching staff. Secondary/DBs coach David Overstreet III will serve as the defensive coordinator, with assistant DL coach Bryan Bing and defensive assistant/quality control coach Tanzel Smart will both coach the defensive line.

Not only does it serve as another coaching opportunity for Dallas' three assistants, and maybe in some bigger roles, but it gives the Cowboys valuable insight on the players in each position room as well with their own coaches having been around the players in a football setting. With two first round picks coming up, both of which could be defensive players, it's a more up close and personal look at prospects than some teams will be able to get in their pre-draft process.

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Jan. 13

Solomon Thomas

#90

Height: 6-2
Weight: 285 lbs
College: Stanford

2:54 p.m. --Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at a Salvation Army charity event, Cowboys defensive lineman voice support for his position coach, Cowboys DL coach Aaron Whitecotton, to get Dallas' vacant defensive coordinator role. Thomas has played for Whitecotton the last four years of his career, three of which were together with the Jets before both came to the Cowboys in 2025.

"He's been amazing to me," Thomas said. "Every d-line I've been on, we've been great under him. He commands intensity, he commands greatness, he has a high standard for us that he doesn't bend on ever. Whether it's Week 1 or Week 17 and you're not going to the playoffs, he holds us to the same standard every day.

Definitely a brilliant football mind, the way that he's able to communicate concepts and have us understand how we're doing things and how the offense is trying to attack us, and also how to break guys down is one of his super powers and specialties. I definitely believe he's the man for the job, a man who could do it, and a man who would dominate in his first year."

Whitecotton interviewed for the defensive coordinator role on Monday, and the Cowboys are expected to interview two more candidates, Ravens DC Zach Orr and former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, on Tuesday. For the latest on Dallas' search for their new defensive play caller, follow our defensive coordinator candidate trackerhere.

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Jan. 4

KaVontae Turpin

Height: 5-9
Weight: 153 lbs
College: TCU

5:06 p.m.- While he didn't make the Pro Bowl for the first time in two years, KaVontae Turpin rewrote plenty of the Cowboys' return records in 2025. And that's not exactly a good thing, considering all of the points allowed by the defense, resulted in Turpin having a franchise-record 69 kickoff returns.

But at least he made the most of it. Capped off by 215 yards on Sunday, including a season-long 84-yard return, Turpin finished the year with 1,814 kickoff return yards, the most in franchise history. That demolished the previous record of 1,399 kick return yards in a season by Tyson Thompson (2005).

Turpin had just 55 punt return yards this year, but the 1,869 combined return yards is also a Cowboys single-season record, eclipsing Reggie Swinton (1,741 in 2001).

And with this season, Turpin now ranks second in franchise history in total combined return yards with 4,142, trailing only Kevin Williams (4,329).

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