Coaching Profile Of Saints Assistant Candidate Christian Parker

After playing collegiately at Richmond, Parker landed a job coaching the defensive backs at Virginia State in 2013. He'd be at that job two years before accepting the same position with Norfolk State for the next two seasons. 

Offered a position with William & Mary in 2017, Parker instead took a job as a defensive analyst at Notre Dame. He'd be there one year before moving on as a defensive analyst for Texas A&M. 

In 2019, Parker was hired by the Green Bay Packers as a defensive quality control coach. After two years in that spot, the Denver Broncos and then-coach Vic Fangio hired Parker as their defensive backs coach. 

Fangio, defensive coordinator of the Eagles this past year, was fired by the Broncos after the 2021-22 campaign. However, Parker was retained by new Denver coach Nathaniel Hackett. The Hackett hire was an unmitigated disaster, yet Parker was still kept on the staff when Sean Payton was hired by Denver in 2023.

In Parker's three years with the Broncos, Denver's defense would record 39 interceptions. They held top-10 rankings in total defense and finished in the top-12 against the pass twice.

The Philadelphia Eagles and new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio brought Parker over as secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator this past season. Philadelphia finished the year ranked first in both total defense and against the pass.

The Eagles intercepted 13 passes during the regular season. They added six more during the playoffs, including one returned for a pivotal touchdown in their Super Bowl LIX victory.

Christian Parker, just 33, has never been a defensive coordinator at any level. However, he's developed several talented defensive backs through his short NFL career.  

Safety Justin Simmons had arguably the most productive stretch of his career under Parker in Denver. Additionally, CB Patrick Surtain II was a Broncos first-round choice in 2021 and immediately developed into one of the league's finest corners under Parker.

In 2023, Philadelphia finished 31st in pass defense. With two rookie starters in the secondary, Parker and Fangio led the Eagles to 1st against the pass this season. 

This past season, New Orleans ranked 27th against the pass and 30th in total defense. The Saints have two talented defensive backs in Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry. However, CB Paulson Adebo is a free agent and S Tyrann Mathieu may not return.