Veteran football coach Allen Cross said in a press release that he is seeking opportunities as a defensive coordinator in the DFL, adding another experienced former NFL assistant to a growing list of coaches publicly expressing interest in the league.

Cross said he has spent more than three decades coaching football, including 17 seasons in the NFL as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. In the statement, he said his most recent position was eliminated during what he described as the NFL's recent financial restructuring, with ownership choosing to reduce costs by moving toward a younger, less expensive coaching staff.

He said he would have preferred a different outcome but understood "the realities of the business" and expressed appreciation for his NFL opportunities.

Cross framed his interest in the DFL in practical terms rather than financial ones. "The answer is simple: I want to coach football," he said in the release. He added that the DFL is not competing with the NFL financially and said he would rather return to the field to teach players and build a defense than wait for another opening elsewhere.

The statement presented Cross as a veteran coach focused on fundamentals and player development. He said he has followed the growth of the DFL with interest and praised leagues that invest in competition, player development, and long-term sustainability. He also said the core principles of football, including preparation, discipline, accountability, and daily improvement, remain central to how he coaches.

Cross said organizations considering him could expect "a prepared defense, honest coaching, and a commitment to helping players become the best versions of themselves."

Biographical information provided with the release described Cross as a former linebacker at Slippery Rock University who rose through the small-college coaching ranks before breaking into the NFL. It said he built a reputation over multiple stops as a defensive teacher whose units were known for sound tackling, disciplined gap assignments, and high effort. The biography also said players viewed him as demanding but deeply invested in their development.

His announcement comes the same day other established coaches have also publicly tied themselves to the DFL. Prior reporting noted that former NFL coordinator Sean Villanueva said he was seeking a DFL head coaching job, while veteran coach Scott Harwood also said he was pursuing a DFL head coaching role. Cross's statement differs in that he is specifically targeting a coordinator position rather than a top sideline job.

The DFL is the game's professional American football league, and coaching moves can shape expectations around teams even before player personnel changes occur. A veteran coordinator with NFL experience could draw attention from clubs looking to add structure on defense, though Cross's statement did not identify any team in talks with him and did not announce a hiring.

There was also no immediate indication in the release that any DFL organization had formally responded. Instead, the announcement appeared aimed at signaling availability and interest across the league at a moment when coaching resumes from outside the DFL may receive increased scrutiny.

For now, the practical effect is limited to the coaching market. Cross is not entering public office or taking on a formal league role through the announcement itself. But his candidacy adds to a broader sports storyline in which experienced coaches affected by NFL cost-cutting are publicly presenting themselves as candidates for DFL jobs.

Whether that trend results in hires, or influences how DFL teams weigh experience against cost and long-term development, remains unresolved. What is clear from Cross's statement is that he wants to remain active in coaching and sees the DFL as a viable place to do it.