The Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff is already looking different from how it did to end the 2025 NFL season. Christian Parker is taking the reins as defensive coordinator with Matt Eberflus no longer in town, and now Derrick Ansley will also join the party as defensive pass game coordinator.
Ansley is coming off two successful tenures with the Los Angeles Chargers and Green Bay Packers, and the Cowboys' shaky secondary can certainly use a hand. That's why cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is like celebrating Dallas' latest coaching hire, as Ansley could be exactly what he needs to take his game to new heights in Year 2.
Derrick Ansley, Christian Parker Will Work Wonders with Shavon Revel Jr.
It isn't hard to see why Cowboys fans (and Revel) likely have high hopes for the Ansley-Parker tandem next season.
The Cowboys ranked 32nd in pass defense in 2025, giving up 251.5 passing yards per game. They also ranked last in points allowed per game (30.1) and successful third-down conversion percentage (47.3%). Adding two specialists in pass defense, plus a new CB coach like Ryan Smith, should help in that regard.
Revel entered the season with plenty of hype, but the knee injury that forced him to slip in the NFL Draft also cost him most of his rookie campaign. Then, when he was healthy enough to play, he didn't look like the play-making ballhawk he was at East Carolina.
His Pro Football Focus grade (35.2) ranked dead last among 114 eligible cornerbacks. In seven games (five starts), he logged 35 total tackles (23 solo), three passes defensed, and one tackle for loss. He allowed 28 completions on 38 targets (73.7%) for 331 yards and three touchdowns, with opposing quarterbacks logging a passer rating of 126.1 when going against him.
Of course, it's unfair to give up on Revel after missing so much time and being thrown into the fire right away. His rookie season was just a learning experience. But with an improved coaching staff and a full training camp to get up to speed, there will be no more room for excuses.
Ansley has a track record of success, helping Derwin James Jr. earn All-Pro honors in Los Angeles before turning the Packers' pass defense around. With him at the helm, the Packers ranked in the top 10 in total defense (No. 5), scoring defense (No. 6), run defense (No. 7), takeaways (No. 4), sacks (No. 8, and yards allowed per play (No. 5).
The Cowboys' offense is already firing on all cylinders; they need the defense to get a couple of stops to stay in games. And with a young stud who would've been a first-round pick if it wasn't for that ACL injury, they already have a prime reinforcement in the building for next season.