Frisco, Texas – From Tom Landry to Brian Schottenheimer.
Schottenheimer was named the 10th coach of the Dallas Cowboys and the ninth in Jerry Jones' tenure as owner and general manager, joining Hall of Famers Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells among the team's head coaches.
Schottenheimer replaces Mike McCarthy, who was 49-35 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason in five seasons with the Cowboys.
McCarthy was hired to get the Cowboys over the proverbial hump, but Dallas has the longest NFC championship game drought in the conference at 29 years, with the Washington Commanders heading to the title game this season.
The Cowboys will turn to a first-time head coach in hopes of bringing the franchise's sixth Super Bowl trophy – and fourth under Jones – back to Dallas.
The search Jones conducted for Schottenheimer, 51, did not include any known interviews, although he did discuss a discussion with Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the Colorado head coach. The Cowboys interviewed Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Seattle Seahawks head coach Leslie Frazier.
With a closer look, Cowboys reporter Todd Archer answers four big recruiting questions, including what's next. National reporter Jeremy Fowler on what he's hearing about the recruitment and draft analyst Matt Miller turns him on to the draft. Finally, analyst Ben Solak takes the wraps off rentals.
The Cowboys maintain stability with Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, but how will he put his stamp on things? Tim Heitman-USA exercising today
What is Schottenheimer's coaching background?
He's a coach's coach. His father, Marty, was a head coach in Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington and San Diego. Marty's 200 wins are the seventh-most in NFL history and took the Browns and Chiefs to three AFC championship games.
Brian has been an NFL assistant coach for 24 years and served as an offensive coordinator for 14 years, including the last two with the Cowboys, although he did not call plays. He was the playcaller for the New York Jets (2006-11), Rams (2012-14) and Seahawks (2018-20).
He's better known as a running coordinator, but in his three years with the Seahawks, Russell Wilson threw 106 touchdown passes with 25 interceptions. He also called plays for the final four games of the 2021 season while with the Jacksonville Jaguars as game coordinator after Urban Meyer was fired. – Archer
Why did Schottenheimer get the job over Moore and Sanders?
If Sanders never actually interviewed for the job, was he really a candidate? According to sources, Moore performed well in his virtual meeting with the club. Perhaps the timing hurt his candidacy since the Eagles are still alive in the playoffs.
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But Schottenheimer had a supporter in quarterback Dak Prescott. The two have a good relationship, and according to people in and around the team, Prescott likes Schottenheimer's creativity. After a slow start in 2023, the belief among some was that Schottenheimer played a role in the schematic changes that led to the offense starting in the final 13 weeks of the season, even with former coach Mike McCarthy calling the plays.
It's hard to discount familiarity. Even though Schottenheimer has only been there for three seasons, she has developed good relationships with every part of the organization. And it's hard to discuss the costs. Although it is unknown what he will do, Jones is not a big fan of top money for coaches or having large staffs. – Archer
Will he bring in a new coaching team?
The simple answer is yes, as the entire 2024 coaching staff is no longer under contract. Special teams coordinator John Fassel has already moved on to the Tennessee Titans. Some assistants have been told they won't be back, but the Cowboys want to keep some, like B. Coach Lunda Wells, who could be a candidate for the offensive line.
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was noncommittal about his future at the end of the season, but there are people in the organization who believe he could pursue coaching. Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is a leading candidate for defensive coordinator, sources told Fowler. Eberflus was a Cowboys assistant from 2011 to 2017.
Because Schottenheimer has been with nine different organizations, he knows a lot of people around the league. – Archer
Will the 2025 Cowboys roster be good enough to compete for a Super Bowl?
Jerry Jones will say this at some point, but it's a roster that needs work on both sides of the ball after a 7-10 finish in 2024. The Cowboys suffered a number of injuries to key players, but that's not the only reason why they finished so poorly. Even when the roster was healthy, they struggled.
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But the roster's bones are good enough to compete with Prescott, WR Ceedene Lamb, LB Micah Parsons, G Tyler Smith and CB Daron Bland. They have key players coming off season-ending operations in CB Trevon Diggs and LB DeMarvion Overhowns. They have young players like G Cooper Beebe, Lt Tyler Guyton and DT Mazi Smith who played significant snaps in 2024 and need to be better in 2025. And they need to retain key players set to become free agents, like CB Jourdan Lewis and DT Osa Odighizuwa, while adding players in free agency. – Archer
What are you hearing around the league in rent?
Coaches, executives and industry professionals I spoke with were shocked that Schottenheimer rose to the top of Jerry Jones' list over seemingly more qualified candidates. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, a former Cowboys player and the former OC in Dallas, was believed to covet the job, and there are surprises in league circles that Dallas didn't wait to better explore that possibility .
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Still, there are reasons cited by league sources why a Schottenheimer tenure can be successful. With Prescott he will bring continuity and a level of comfort – there is a belief within the league that Prescott has invested in Schottenheimer.
People around the league believe Schottenheimer can put together a good staff, possibly including Eberflus as DC. Schottenheimer has been around a long time and has seen a lot – he may not have the name of some of those mentioned as possibilities for the job, but he also projects as someone who can provide a steady hand to an organization that seems to be attracting chaos at every turn . – Fowler
What do the Cowboys need most in Round 1 of the draft and who might be available at No. 12 overall?
Anything but a quarterback. The Cowboys have a clear need for running back Rico Dowdle Set to hit free agency. They are also desperate for a WR2 opposite Ceedee Lamb and could fill needs at tight end, edge opposite Micah Parsons, defensive tackle or offensive guard. The Cowboys have a lot of holes, but that gives them options.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty would be a quick fix for the running game if he is available. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, leading the FBS in both categories. He's probably the highest player on the board (he's No. 6 in my rankings) when Dallas shows up, but the Cowboys are longing throughout the offense. Should Dallas decide to pursue running back because of the depth at the position, Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III or Penn State Tyler Warren could contribute immediately. -Miller
How would you rate this setting?
C What was the point of moving on from McCarthy to promote his offensive coordinator? Will anything change schematically with another branch in front of the West Coast tree? Should game management improve with a first-time head coach?
I'm sure Schottenheimer has some new ideas and can modernize in some ways, but there's a reason he's been a lifelong offensive coordinator and – just two years ago – was an offensive analyst. Schottenheimer is not considered to be Grenz's head coach candidate. – Solak
