Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been an interesting few weeks for the Dallas Cowboys, and it all started a few weeks ago when owner Jerry Jones decided he would not give head coach Mike McCarthy a new contract.
The Cowboys moved on from the 61-year-old head coach and decided to hire their offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, as the new head man, leaving many people scratching their heads.
Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy stands on the sidelines against the Washington Commanders during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Instead of conducting a legitimate coaching search, the Cowboys just handed the keys over to a coordinator who didn’t have a great offense this season.
It didn’t help that quarterback Dak Prescott was injured and missed most of the season, but the Cowboys were once viewed as the best team in the NFL, and now it seems like nobody wants to touch it.
Most head coaching candidates don’t want to deal with Jones, who has a say in football operations. Only a few candidates want the job.
Jan 27, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; (L to R) Dallas Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones, head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones speak to the media at a press conference at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
The Dallas Cowboys made the most uninspiring hire in the cycle, promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. The fanbase expressed its displeasure with that decision.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini told Scoop City (h/t RJ Ochoa of Blogging the Boys) that the Cowboys’ differences with former head coach Mike McCarthy, which caused them to part ways, surprised team brass.
If true, one may be concerned that the Cowboys hired Schottenhemier, one of McCarthy’s top assistants, in a panic move.
Owner Jerry Jones stirred up the fanbase with a call to Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. Now, his decision to hire Schottenheimer feels like a massive letdown. According to NFL insider Ed Werder of the Doomsday Podcast, Sanders would have “almost certainly” taken the job.
The Cowboys could have strongly considered Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who interviewed for the job and is familiar with the personnel and organization from his four-year stint as the offensive coordinator.
Yet Dallas hired a candidate who didn’t draw attention from any other team with a head coaching vacancy.
Though Schottenheimer may become a decent lead skipper, the Cowboys could have aimed a little higher to replace McCarthy.
Who knows how Schottenheimer will be? We have seen excellent head coaching hires turn into disasters and bad ones turn out amazing, so it’s too early to tell.
Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Daniel Fisher is a sports writer for Gridiron Heroics covering the NFL and College Football. He has been covering the NFL and College Football for the past two years and with a focus on the Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Buckeyes.
