Cowboys hire former NFL head coach, Packers’ DC to help fix struggling defense

Brian Schottenheimer is turning to a familiar face in an effort to improve his struggling defense. On Monday, Schottenheimer announced the hiring of Mike Pettine as the Cowboys' new senior defensive assistant. It was one of the upcoming changes Schottenheimer alluded to amid the Cowboys' 2-3 start to the season.

Pettine, 60, worked alongside Schottenheimer when they were both coordinators under Rex Ryan with the New York Jets. In both 2009 and 2010, Pettine's defense helped the Jets get within a game of the Super Bowl. During those playoff runs, Pettine's defense defeated offenses led by quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Pettine also has experience working with Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Pettine actually gave Parker his first NFL job in 2019 when Pettine was entering his second season as the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator. (On a related note, the Cowboys face the Packers this weekend at Lambeau Field.)

"He's gonna be here in a role to support everything that CP is leading and guiding," Schottenheimer said of the hire.

Pettine's NFL background also includes two years as the Cleveland Browns' head coach during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He most recently…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/