After one of the most difficult defensive seasons in franchise history, the Dallas Cowboys made a decisive move by parting ways with Matt Eberflus and promoting Christian Parker to defensive coordinator. But the move hasn’t convinced everyone, least of all Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson.
Team owner Jerry Jones framed the decision as a step toward stability, but outside the organization, skepticism remains high.
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One of the loudest dissenting voices belongs to Johnson, the longtime former Cincinnati Bengals star who believes the problem in Dallas extends far beyond who is calling the defense.
Appearing on the First Take podcast, Johnson delivered a blunt assessment that immediately drew attention across the league.
“The hire doesn’t matter. You could bring the Jesus out there to become the DC of the Dallas Cowboys. You’re still going to get that you got,” he said.
Nothing personal against Parker
For Johnson, the statement was not about Parker specifically, but about systemic issues that have plagued the Cowboys for years.
The 2025 season ended without a playoff berth, and the defense was a central reason why.
Dallas surrendered more than 500 points, marking the first time the franchise has crossed that threshold in a single season.
Personnel instability played a major role. Injuries ravaged the roster, forcing constant changes and preventing any meaningful chemistry from developing.
Only three defenders played more than half of the team’s defensive snaps: Donovan Wilson, DaRon Bland, and Malik Hooker.
The results were historically poor, even if their final placement in the NFC East wasn’t. The Cowboys finished dead last in the league for defense stats, allowing 30.1 points per game.
Why the defense was left vulnerable
Missed assignments, blown coverages, and communication breakdowns became routine, particularly in the secondary, where players often appeared unsure of their responsibilities.
The contrast with the league’s best defense was stark. The Seattle Seahawks thrived largely because of continuity. Six defensive backs logged at least 60 percent of the snaps, and that consistency allowed trust and chemistry to form.
Dallas, by comparison, rotated relentlessly and paid the price, with 24 defenders passing the 20 percent snap threshold – even DeMarvion Overshown narrowly missed that mark.
Few observers disagree that moving on from Eberflus was necessary. Still, as Johnson implied, changing the coordinator alone may not be enough.
If injuries strike again or talent evaluation continues to fall short, Parker could find himself fighting the same uphill battle.
