Mike Pettine was traveling in Italy with his wife when he got the call offering him a role with America's Team. The veteran defensive coach had purposely stepped away from football at the end of last season after four years in an assistant role in Minnesota, but this incoming request was from Christian Parker.
Pettine hired Parker to his first NFL job back in Green Bay in 2019. The 34-year-old had built a reputation as a wunderkind, the next genius defensive coordinator, but his first five games with that title in Dallas had not gone well. The team was 2-3 despite having an elite-caliber offense; it was Parker's defense that was dragging them down, at or near the bottom in multiple key categories.
Parker and the Cowboys were looking for help.
Pettine picked up.
"When somebody you care about reaches out," he said, "you answer the call."
As it turns out, Pettine wasn't fully prepared to walk away from coaching; his retirement lasted about 10 months. And even that wasn't a complete break. Petting visited The Star during OTAs, when Parker made the first overture to bring him aboard. Pettine said he was adamant about taking the time away, even though his wife apparently suspected he'd be lured back to the sideline. He told reporters that when his wife talked about him being retired, "she would always add '-ish' to the end of it."
She was right. The 60-year-old Pettine met with reporters Friday, his first time doing so since accepting a somewhat nebulous-sounding job as the team's Senior Defensive Assistant.
It's been a whirlwind in the days since. Pettine described it as "trying to sip water from a firehose." The Cowboys are trying to fix their foundering defense on the fly and save their season, with fans and analysts alike trying to figure out everything from where Pettine will be stationed on gameday (the coaches' booth) to who he reports to (Brian Schottenheimer, not Parker) to what exactly his job will entail.
"I think the role will just kind of grow as it goes," Pettine admitted.
"Football's a game of a million little things. There's no one magic play to run. It's a lot of the detail stuff. There's been taking a lot of notes; it's not something where, 'Hey, we're going to do these 30 things different today,' but it's things that need to get addressed."
In listening to Pettine speak, though, it seems clear he's not in town to coach the Cowboys' defensive players but rather, to coach up Parker on how to be a defensive coordinator.
He says he'll be most active in staff meetings and one-on-one film sessions at Parker's side.
"Just advise him," Pettine said of his role. "I think we'll build a lot of the stuff together. We'll gameplan along with the staff. I just feel like my experience there- having gone against a lot of these opponents over time and built books on most of these offensive coordinators- I just feel I'll be able to help that way."
A behind-the-scenes role will tap into the close relationship the two already have. And Pettine expects there to be no problem with personal feelings or their prior shared history getting in the way of the job at hand, even if it requires Pettine to deliver uncomfortable truths to Parker about what's not working.
"I don't see that as being an issue," Pettine explained. "CP knows me well enough that when I say something, some other people might be a little shocked by it, and he just knows who I am. He'll understand where I'm coming from. I'll make some suggestions, and when we get behind closed doors, if I need to have some tough conversations, we'll do it as I've always done with him or with other coaches."
Pettine's pro career of nearly a quarter-century has seen him with the Ravens, Jets, Bills, Browns, Seahawks, Packers, Bears, and Vikings, in roles ranging from assistant to consultant to coordinator to head coach. And having worked alongside the likes of Rex Ryan, Pete Carroll, Mike McCarthy, Matt LaFleur, Kevin O'Connell, and even Schottenheimer, he'll be able to bring a wealth of experience to Parker as a first-time DC.
"I think I can help a lot. I have a four-inch thick book of what not to do, and a very thin one of what to do. I think that's key, is being able to learn from others' mistakes. As much as you think you're prepared for it, you're really not until you get into it."
Parker's into it, for sure. But now so is Pettine. And the Cowboys are hoping that might make all the difference.
Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Mike Pettine on fixing Cowboys D, aiding Christian Parker: 'It's a million little things'
