Christian Parker enters his third season as defensive backs coach with the Denver Broncos in 2023. He was hired by the club on Feb. 8, 2021.
Parker, who has four years of cumulative NFL experience, spent two seasons with Green Bay (2019-20) before arriving in Denver and served as a defensive quality control coach. In addition to his time in the NFL, Parker has six years of collegiate experience, coaching at Texas A&M (2018), Notre Dame (2017), William & Mary (Spring 2017), Norfolk State University (2015-16) and Virginia State University (2013-14).
In his second season with the Broncos in 2022, Parker oversaw a secondary that tallied 11 of the team's 15 interceptions. Four different defensive backs recorded at least one pick, with safety Justin Simmons' career-high six interceptions representing a tie for the most in the NFL.
Denver's secondary played a huge role in the team surrendering fewer than 200 net passing yards eight times and allowing one or fewer passing touchdowns on 10 occasions. In total, the Broncos' defense gave up 19 points or less in 10 games in 2022, marking the third-most such games in the NFL behind San Francisco (13) and Pittsburgh (11).
Under Parker's guidance, Simmons and cornerback Pat Surtain II garnered Associated Press All-Pro honors. Simmons earned second-team accolades for the third time in his career—second with Parker as his position coach—while Surtain, who was named a 2023 Pro Bowl starter, garnered first-team recognition.
The Broncos were the only NFL team to have two defensive backs selected to Associated Press All-Pro teams. Additionally, Simmons is the only defensive back to earn AP All-Pro nods in each of the last two seasons.
Joining the team in Feb. 2021 under Vic Fangio, Parker was part of a coaching staff that helped the defense tally its fewest points per game (18.9) since 2016. The Broncos' defense ranked in the Top 10 in points allowed (18.9—3rd), red zone percentage (50.0—3rd), fourth-down percentage (32.3—4th), total yards per game (326.1—8th) and passing yards per contest (214.8—8th).
Parker coached Simmons to his second Associated Press All-Pro team while Surtain earned NFL Rookie of the Week and AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors (Week 12), along with being selected to the 2021 Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. In 2021, four members of the Broncos' secondary recorded at least one interception and combined for 12 picks in total.
With the Packers from 2019-20, Parker focused on the defensive secondary (cornerbacks) while assisting in breaking down opponent game film and analyzing their offensive tendencies. He also was responsible for helping develop the playbook, compiling team and player reports, and coordinating the opponent scout team.
The Packers ranked ninth in the NFL in scoring defense the two seasons Parker was with the team (21.3 ppg) while picking off the 12th most passes (28). Quarterbacks had a combined 86.1 passer rating from 2019-20 against the Packers, which was the ninth fewest in the NFL during that span. Cornerback Jaire Alexander was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2020, becoming the youngest Packer to make the league's annual All-Star game in seven years.
As a defensive analyst for Texas A&M in 2018, Parker worked primarily with the secondary and helped the Aggies rank ninth in the nation in third-down defense (30.3%). Prior to joining the Aggies, Parker spent the 2017 season as a defensive analyst at Notre Dame after serving as the cornerbacks coach at William & Mary during the offseason.
Parker worked as defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator coach at Norfolk State from 2015-16. He started his coaching career as the cornerbacks (2013) and secondary (2014) coach at Virginia State.
A four-year player at the University of Richmond, Parker was a member of Colonial Athletic Association championship teams in 2009 and 2012. He graduated from Richmond with a bachelor's degree in political science.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-PRO PLAYERS COACHED (2): S Justin Simmons (2021, '22), CB Pat Surtain II (2022).
PRO BOWL PLAYERS COACHED (1): CB Pat Surtain II (2022).
Defensive Quality Control 2019-20
Cornerbacks 2017 (offseason)
Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator 2015-16
Secondary/Recruiting Coordinator 2014
