The Dallas Cowboys hired Mike Pettine as senior defensive assistant on Monday, pairing the 60-year-old former head coach with defensive coordinator Christian Parker to address a unit that ranks among the league’s worst through five weeks, according to CBS Sports.
The move follows a 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night that pushed Dallas to 2-3 and left head coach Brian Schottenheimer looking to fill the senior defensive assistant vacancy, per CBS Sports. The Cowboys allowed 419 yards in that game, including 241 on the ground.
The Main Development: Pettine Joins Parker’s Staff
Pettine’s history with Parker goes back to 2019, when Pettine gave Parker his first NFL job while serving as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator. Schottenheimer referenced that connection in explaining the hire.
“I think Pett’s experience, not only in football, but his experience in this system of what we do. His understanding of the 3-4 family. He has the awareness of some of our players: Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary.
He was the coordinator when CP was there. So, I think it’s just a great fit and just a guy who certainly brings a bunch of experience to the staff, myself included,” Schottenheimer said, according to CBS Sports.
Schottenheimer and Pettine also share history as coordinators under Rex Ryan with the New York Jets. In 2009 and 2010, Pettine’s defense helped the Jets reach within a game of the Super Bowl, beating offenses led by Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady along the way.
What It Means For A Defense Ranked Near The Bottom Of The League
The Cowboys hire of Mike Pettine arrives with the defense ranked 26th in points allowed, 25th in passing touchdowns allowed, 29th in yards per carry allowed, 32nd in third-down efficiency and 25th in red zone efficiency, per CBS Sports. Dallas has allowed at least 20 points in every game this season and has given up 30 or more twice.
The numbers go further. Opponents have posted a 60.6% success rate on dropbacks against Dallas this season, the highest mark in the NFL and the second-highest through four weeks in the NFL’s Next Gen Stats era since 2016, trailing only the 2019 Miami Dolphins’ 61.8% on a team that finished 5-11, according to NFL.com. Quarterbacks have also completed passes against Dallas at a rate 8% above expectation, the highest figure in the league, while the Cowboys are tied for the second-fewest sacks in football with four through five games.
Pettine’s Background And Ties To The Roster
Pettine entered the NFL in 2002 with the Baltimore Ravens and has since coached Hall of Famers Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Darrelle Revis. He served as Cleveland Browns head coach in 2014 and 2015 and most recently worked as the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach.
Schottenheimer pointed to Pettine’s familiarity with specific Green Bay players now facing Dallas, naming Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary, as part of the value he brings to the staff.
Roster Pieces The Staff Is Working With
The hire comes as Dallas tries to integrate personnel moves made to fix the same problems. The Cowboys traded second- and sixth-round picks for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who has played just 25 snaps as a Cowboy through Week 5, all in Houston, according to Yahoo Sports. Parker said after the trade that Porter will be matched up appropriately, signaling plans to deploy him in man coverage outside.
Rookie safety Caleb Downs has been a bright spot, ranking sixth among defensive rookies in NFL.com’s quarter-mark rankings. Through Week 4, Downs posted 31 tackles and a 69.6 PFF grade, third-best on the defense, to go with a strip-sack, two forced fumbles and nine catches allowed on 10 targets.
Parker’s job security remains uncertain as his seat warms in Frisco, with Jerry Jones leaving open the possibility of further changes on the defensive side, according to Bleacher Report.
What’s Next
Dallas does not play again until Sunday, Oct. 18, when the Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field to face the Packers, the franchise where Pettine most recently coordinated the defense before Parker’s departure.
For more on this story, see Total Apex Sports’ Dallas Cowboys coverage.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
