FRISCO, Texas – Christian Parker is getting his team together as the Cowboys welcome Derrick Ansley and Ryan Smith to their defensive coaching staff.
Smith, who was the cornerbacks coach for the Arizona Cardinals, finalized his deal with the Cowboys. Ansley, previously the pass game coordinator for the Packers, also joined the team. Both signed contracts on the same day.
Both coaches have rich backgrounds in football. Ansley has worked at prominent schools like Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee, where he was defensive coordinator for two years. He learned under Nick Saban at Alabama, which gave him valuable experience. Smith, too, has impressive mentorship, having coached safeties under Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
Ansley also has NFL experience, serving as a defensive backs coach with the Raiders and Chargers. During his last two seasons with the Packers, Green Bay ranked 13th and 11th in passing yards allowed, with a standout season in 2024, when they led the NFL with 17 interceptions.
Now, Ansley and Smith will help Parker rebuild Dallas’ secondary, which struggled last season, allowing the most passing yards in the league.
Experts point out that a strong secondary is crucial for success in today’s NFL, where passing yards are often the key metric for evaluating defenses. A recent survey found that a robust defensive line and a reliable secondary can significantly improve a team’s chances in the playoffs.
While Parker’s staff is shaping up, the Cowboys still need to fill a few roles, including linebackers and defensive line coaches, to complete their defensive lineup.
For the latest updates on the coaching staff, you can follow the Cowboys coaching tracker.
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