FRISCO, Texas — With change atop the defensive totem pole in Dallas comes the likelihood of a shakeup beneath it, and the Cowboys are already preparing for a round of potential changes as they welcome Christian Parker to the organization as the team's newest defensive coordinator.
Also interviewing for that position, prior to Parker's hiring, was incumbent defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, but there's a chance he still lands the role, but for a different team — the Tennessee Titans requesting an interview with him following the naming of Robert Saleh as head coach.
"I'm just trying to live in the present," Whitecotton said, speaking as a defensive coordinator of the East-West Shrine Bowl. "I'm so busy with this East-West game and what we've got going here in Dallas. I haven't [interviewed with the Titans yet], so I haven't really had a chance to go through that in my mind. The game has been an incredibly good distraction.
"I don't have to sit there and think about this or think about this, I'm working my butt off trying to get these boys ready to play. I think that's kind of where my mind's at right now."
His mind will, of course, shift gears quickly in the next few days, and the Cowboys are looking into potential replacements, should Whitecotton accept a promotion elsewhere to become an NFL defensive coordinator for the first time in his coaching career.
The organization has requested to interview Marcus Dixon, defensive line coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Dixon, 41, has spent the last two seasons helping Brian Flores to elevate the defense in Minneapolis and who also spent time in the same role for the Denver Broncos, when Parker was the team's defensive backs coach, and that relationship has swiftly led to the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator seeking him out.
It is key to note that it would be a lateral move for Dixon, and that would normally give Flores the right to block the request, but it's reported Dixon's contract expired at the end of the season and, if true, he's a free agent able to interview with whomever he so chooses.
Additionally, as Dallas begins the review of its defensive assistants and position coaches, they've formally interviewed Ronell Williams, also hoping to poach him from the Philadelphia Eagles, the team they successfully stole Parker away from. Williams has served as the Eagles' assistant linebackers' coach in 2024, previously their nickel cornerback coach in 2023.
That marks two candidates who spent time with Parker recently, painting a strong inference as to how he's looking to build out his defensive coaching staff over the next several days or more.
