Long article, some highlights about potential staff additions added below.
FYI, some rumors saying Whitecotton might be leaving to join Saleh in TN
Potential Staff
Parker is young but has already built an extensive network of coaching connections. His stints in college bring strong ties to current Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko. One such name to know from that world is Tyler Santucci, who was a graduate assistant alongside Parker at both Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Santucci was Elko’s defensive coordinator at Duke and spent this past season coaching linebackers for the Ravens.
Two other names that could get in the mix to coach linebackers in some role are Mike Smith and Kirk Olivadotti. Smith is currently the Patriots outside linebackers coach, but worked as a pass rush specialist with Green Bay while Parker was there; he also worked in the same capacity in Minnesota alongside Daronte Jones. Olivadotti was also on that Packers staff and spent the past two years coaching inside linebackers for the Seahawks. Neither coach would be available until their team is done in the postseason, of course.
If Parker opts not to retain Aaron Whitecotton on the defensive line, there are three names to know: Marcus Dixon, Clint Hurtt, and Jay Rodgers. Dixon is the Vikings defensive line coach right now, but worked alongside Parker in Denver and also under fellow Fangio disciple Brandon Staley with the Rams. Hurtt is the Eagles defensive line coach, giving him a direct tie to Parker, but he was also in Seattle while Brian Schottenheimer was there and has worked under Fangio across multiple stops.
Rodgers, on the other hand, is a stout Fangio coach. Currently the EDGEs coach in New Orleans under Staley, Rodgers has worked in the Fangio system for 10 of the last 11 years, alternating between coaching the defensive line and outside linebackers.
The secondary also brings myriad options, but the biggest name to know is Sean Desai. A longtime Fangio disciple, Desai was long thought of as the next Fangio, even succeeding him as the Bears defensive coordinator before the coaching staff was overhauled a year later. He also ran the defense in Philadelphia, replacing Jonathan Gannon, but was controversially demoted in favor of Matt Patricia halfway through the year.
Other names to know in the secondary are Jerry Gray, Tommy Donatell, and Jason Simmons. Gray and Simmons have worked with Parker in Green Bay, while Donatell is the son of Fangio’s longtime right hand man, Ed Donatell. Current Eagles assistant defensive backs coaches Roy Anderson and Joe Kasper also merit consideration given their connection with Parker.