Cristian Garcia is in his first season with the Cardinals as linebackers coach after joining the team on 2/12/25. He came to Arizona after spending the 2024 season with the Dallas Cowboys where he was an assistant defensive backs/quality control coach.
Last season with Dallas, Garcia helped the Cowboys rank third in the NFL in sacks (52) and tied for fifth in the league with 16 forced fumbles (Arizona). Pro Bowl CB Trevon Diggs had a team-high 11 passes defensed in just 11 games played.
Prior to Dallas, Garcia was with the Washington Commanders for three seasons where he got his start in the NFL. He began in Washington as a defensive assistant in 2021 and was promoted to defensive quality control coach in 2022. Garcia then worked as the Commanders assistant defensive backs/nickels coach in 2023. Garcia was elevated to interim defensive backs coach during the 2023 season. During his time in Washington, the Commanders defense had four Pro Bowl selections.
Garcia began his coaching career at UNLV as a defensive graduate assistant for two seasons (2018-19) before spending the 2020 season at Georgia Tech as a defensive graduate assistant.
He played linebacker at the University of Florida for three seasons (2015-17) where he appeared in 25 games. Garcia was a team captain and SEC Academic Honor Roll selection as a senior in 2017 after appearing in 11 games and collecting 16 tackles and a pass defensed.
The Gainesville Police Department credited Garcia for preventing a sexual assault during the summer of 2016. He was subsequently feature on ABC's Good Morning America and honored in Washington D.C. by former Vice President at the time, Joe Biden. Garcia was a recipient of the administration's inaugural "Its On Us" Courage Award.
The Miami, FL native received a bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Florida. Garcia and his wife, Kristen have a son, Jordan.
Cristian Garcia Coaching Breakdown
2018–19 UNLV Graduate Assistant
2020 Georgia Tech Graduate Assistant
2021 Washington Commanders Defensive Assistant
2022 Washington Commanders Defensive Quality Control
2023 Washington Commanders Assistant Defensive Backs/Nickels
2024 Dallas Cowboys Assistant Defensive Backs/Quality Control
2025– ARIZONA CARDINALS Linebackers
