Former NFL defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale would give Dallas Cowboys rookie DC Christian Parker a failing grade after his first three games.
Martindale, who last served as a DC for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2025 college football season, joined “Talkin’ Ball with Pat Leonard” to discuss the Cowboys’ defensive struggles. He slammed rookie defensive play-caller Parker and let owner Jerry Jones know he’s more than willing to offer the coach some pointers.
Don “Wink” Martindale rips Cowboys’ Christian Parker
“I don’t want to be an a—, but he’s being outclassed right now,” former Baltimore Ravens/New York Giants DC Martindale told the New York Daily News reporter in the clip posted to X on Wednesday. “So Jerry can call me, and I’ll go help him. But, you know, I’m talking about helping the coordinator.”
Parker, a disciple of Philadelphia Eagles DC Vic Fangio, was supposed to make the Cowboys defense championship-caliber. But it has shown little improvement through the first three weeks. The Cowboys rank 25th in points allowed (27.3 PPG) after finishing last in 2025 (30.1 PPG).
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