New Cowboys DC shows where his priorities are at with latest coaching hires

The Dallas Cowboys continue to build their defensive coaching staff, and their starting point shows their vision.

Mauricio Rodriguez, Wendell Ferreira
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Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers passing game coordinator (defense) Derrick Ansley against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

When the Dallas Cowboys were searching for their new defensive coordinator, it was clear what their vision was: They wanted a young coach and someone who could coach defensive backs at a high level.

Every coach who got a second interview for the gig had experience coaching DBs and an emphasis in the secondary. When they settled on Christian Parker—who helped Patrick Surtain II, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean to first-team All-Pros in their second years in the league—it became clear they got what they wanted.

And now, the latest coaching hires by the Cowboys show Parker’s priorities are perfectly in line with the Cowboys.

Cowboys make first defensive coaches hires

Earlier this weekend, the Cowboys hired Ryan Smith to be their secondary coach and Derrick Ansley to be their pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. As I wrote in an earlier article, Smith’s coaching background includes big names such as former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and Indiana’s head coach Curt Cignetti. His track record working with cornerbacks is impressive.

As for Ansley, the Cowboys are getting a more experienced coach. Most recently, Ansley occupied the same role with the Green Bay Packers. He also has defensive coordinator experience at the NFL and SEC levels, having led the Los Angeles Chargers defense in 2021 and the Tennessee Vols from 2019 to 2020. Ansley also coached defensive backs under Nick Saban in Alabama.

Starting the defensive coaching staff’s hires with defensive back specialists like these confirms that Parker’s vision for the Cowboys defense will start with a strong secondary. I would expect the Cowboys to prioritize cornerback and safety this offseason.

Ansley’s time with the Packers

To learn more about Derrick Ansley, I reached out to our own Wendell Ferreira, who covers the Packers for us at A to Z Sports. Here’s what he had to say:

Ferreira: “It’s hard to know for sure, from the outside, how impactful Derrick Ansley was for the Packers because he wasn’t the coordinator and didn’t work specifically with one position group. But he was part of a plan to build a more experienced defensive coaching staff two years ago, which included defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (who’s now the Miami Dolphins’ head coach), linebackers coach/run game coordinator Anthony Campanile (now the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator), and this year with defensive line coach/run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington.

“During his time with the Packers, the defense was 13th in EPA/dropback and 18th in dropback success rate. While this is not spectacular by any means, Green Bay has obvious personnel issues at cornerback, which helps explain the mediocre results.

“With a background coaching defensive backs, Ansley had been a one-year defensive coordinator under Brandon Staley on the Los Angeles Chargers.

“This offseason, Matt LaFleur decided to go in another direction, hiring former Buffalo Bills’ DC Bobby Babich as the passing game coordinator. Babich had already interviewed for the Packers’ DC position back in 2024, so there was an obvious connection and mutual respect there.”

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