Christian Parker enters his second year as the passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2024, Parker led a secondary that was a critical part of the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX-winning defense, which finished the regular season with the fewest yards allowed per game (278.4) in the NFL. Philadelphia's defensive backs also helped the team pace the league in passing defense (174.2 ypg – the club's best mark since 1998) and rank third in opponent passer rating (82.5) and sixth in opponent completion percentage (62.2 pct.).
Under Parker's guidance, the Eagles' top two picks from the 2024 NFL Draft – cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell (first round) and Cooper DeJean (second round) – were recognized as Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists. Mitchell, who produced two playoff interceptions, ranked third among all cornerbacks in forced incompletions (15, tied) and yards allowed per coverage snap (0.78) (min. 600 coverage snaps). DeJean, who returned an interception for a score against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, recorded the third-best Pro Football Focus defensive grade (82.7) by a cornerback and did not allow a touchdown in coverage all season.
Parker also assisted Darius Slay to top-five finishes among NFL cornerbacks in forced incompletion percentage (third, 20.6 pct.) and completion percentage allowed (fourth, 48.5 pct.) in 2024 (min. 50 targets). In addition, Parker supported safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson (six, third among NFL safeties) and Reed Blankenship (four) to career highs in interceptions.
Prior to his arrival in Philadelphia, Parker coached the defensive backs for the Denver Broncos during the 2021-23 seasons.
In 2023, Parker oversaw a group that featured second-team All-Pro safety Justin Simmons and Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain. Simmons led the Broncos with three picks to go with 70 tackles and eight passes defended, while Surtain finished with 12 passes defensed and one interception.
During the 2022 campaign, Parker guided a secondary that helped the team finish seventh in the NFL in yards allowed per game (320.0). Denver's defensive backs accounted for 11 of the Broncos' 15 picks, including an NFL-leading six interceptions by Simmons, who joined Surtain as the only defensive backs from the same team to earn All-Pro honors that year.
In his first season with Denver in 2021, Parker assisted a unit that was eighth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 326.1 yards per game. He additionally led Simmons to his second All-Pro campaign while mentoring Surtain to All-Rookie recognition from the Pro Football Writers of America.
Before joining the Broncos, Parker spent his first two NFL seasons as a defensive quality control coach with the Green Bay Packers (2019-20). In 2020, he helped cornerback Jaire Alexander collect his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades after logging 13 pass breakups with one interception.
Prior to entering the NFL, Parker served as a defensive analyst at Texas A&M (2018) and Notre Dame (2017). With the Aggies, he supported a group that produced the ninth-best third-down conversion rate (30.3 pct.) in the FBS. He was part of a Fighting Irish staff that went 10-3 in 2017 as well.
From 2015-16, Parker worked as the defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Norfolk State, where he coached cornerback Sandy Chapman to second-team All-MEAC honors after producing five interceptions.
Parker started his coaching career at Virginia State, where he was hired to work with the school's cornerbacks in 2013 before taking on the title and responsibilities of secondary coach/recruiting coordinator in 2014.
A native of Richmond, VA, Parker played collegiately at Richmond and was a two-time Colonial Athletic Association Champion. He graduated from RIchmond with a bachelor's degree in political science.
