The Cowboys added Mike Pettine as senior defensive assistant Monday, October 12, bringing an experienced coach into Christian Parker’s staff as Dallas prepares for a Sunday night trip to Green Bay.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pettine’s role will support Parker, the Cowboys’ first-year defensive coordinator. The two worked together in Green Bay, and Schottenheimer said he and Parker had discussed adding a veteran adviser when Parker was hired.
Pettine has been a defensive coordinator for the Jets, Bills and Packers, a head coach in Cleveland and, more recently, an assistant with Minnesota. Schottenheimer also worked alongside him with the Jets. Those connections give the new assistant familiarity with the coaches he is joining.
The announcement followed Dallas’ 24–16 home loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday, October 8. The Cowboys are 2–3, and their first five opponents have each scored at least 20 points.
