The Denver Broncos will have to find a replacement for one of their top assistant coaches who is leaving the team to take a job with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Denver Broncos lose Christian Parker to Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles

Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker is expected to leave the team to join former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio in Philadelphia as a member of the Eagles coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Fangio recently took over as the Eagles defensive coordinator after spending this past season with the Miami Dolphins before both sides mutually parted ways.

Parker rejoins Fangio after the former Broncos head coach initially brought him in for the 2021 season to coach under him and Ed Donatell. When the Broncos moved on from Fangio, Parker stayed on staff when Nathaniel Hackett took over. After Hackett’s demise, Parker was one of only two assistant coaches Sean Payton kept on staff.

He drew strong praise from Payton early on after he took the job.

Under Parker’s coaching and teaching, the Broncos’ secondary has continued to remain a bright spot for them. Patrick Surtain II earned back-to-back NFLPA All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl nominations. Denver’s star safety Justin Simmons was nominated to the Pro Bowl this year and was an Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro.

Parker was beloved inside Denver’s locker room, not just by the defensive back group but by the entire defense. He’s been considered an up-and-coming rising star in the coaching ranks for the last few seasons. He had two defensive coordinator interviews in this previous hiring cycle with the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers.

In 2022, Parker participated in the NFL’s Accelerator Program because he was recognized and nominated as a potential future coordinator and head coach. His attention to detail and personality as a coach were things that players inside the locker room gravitated toward.

Broncos fans should keep an eye on Greg Williams as a potential replacement. Williams coached the Broncos secondary when Vance Joseph was the head coach in 2018. He spent four seasons with Joseph in Arizona on the Cardinals coaching staff and more recently spent time with the Packers in 2023 as their defensive pass game coordinator.

He’s an experienced, talented coach and has coached multiple Pro Bowl players, including Chris Harris Jr. and Eric Weddle, and helped aid in the development of Byron Murphy Jr. and various other players throughout his career.

In 2022, Williams guided a cornerback group that helped Arizona rank No. 2 in the league in yards allowed per completion (10.10), the top single-season mark by the Cardinals since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Arizona allowed only 40 completions of 20-plus yards on the season, tied for No. 3 in the league. In 2021, Williams’ cornerbacks helped the Cardinals rank No. 7 in the NFL in takeaways (27) and No. 8 in offensive points allowed (349).