Cowboys Hire Brian Schottenheimer as 10th Head Coach in Franchise History
The Dallas Cowboys have officially named Brian Schottenheimer as the 10th head coach in the franchise’s history, ushering in a new chapter under the leadership of Jerry Jones. Schottenheimer becomes the ninth coach under Jones’ ownership, joining legendary names like Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, and Bill Parcells.
Schottenheimer replaces Mike McCarthy, who finished with a regular season record of 49-35 and a postseason mark of 1-3 over five seasons with the Cowboys. McCarthy was initially hired to guide the Cowboys past their longstanding NFC Championship Game drought, which now stands at 29 years, the longest in the NFC. This move reflects Jones’ determination to bring the Cowboys’ sixth Super Bowl championship — and fourth under his ownership — back to Dallas.
The hiring process was unconventional, with Schottenheimer not being the widely anticipated frontrunner. The Cowboys’ search didn’t include big-name interviews, though there was a brief discussion with Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the head coach at the University of Colorado. Schottenheimer’s competitors included Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, and Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier.
Schottenheimer’s Coaching Background
A coach’s son, Schottenheimer is deeply entrenched in football culture. His father, Marty Schottenheimer, was a long-time NFL head coach with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington, and San Diego Chargers. Marty amassed 200 regular-season wins, placing him seventh on the NFL’s all-time list, and took his teams to three AFC Championship Games.
Brian Schottenheimer has 24 years of NFL coaching experience, with 14 years as an offensive coordinator. He served as the play-caller for the New York Jets (2006-2011), the St. Louis Rams (2012-2014), and the Seattle Seahawks (2018-2020). Known for a run-first philosophy, Schottenheimer guided Seattle’s offense to success with quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw 106 touchdowns and only 25 interceptions under his direction. Schottenheimer also briefly served as the passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 after Urban Meyer was fired.
Why Schottenheimer Over Moore or Sanders?
While Deion Sanders’ name circulated as a possible candidate, sources indicate that he never fully interviewed for the position. Kellen Moore, who had a strong connection with quarterback Dak Prescott, performed well during his virtual interview. However, the timing of the process may have hurt Moore’s candidacy, as the Eagles were still in playoff contention. In the end, Schottenheimer’s continuity within the Cowboys’ system, particularly his experience with the team over the past three years, played a pivotal role in his selection.
What’s Next for the Cowboys?
As Schottenheimer takes the helm of the Cowboys, attention will quickly shift to how he will stamp his identity on the team. While he inherits a roster with significant talent, the challenge of leading the team to a Super Bowl remains. The Cowboys now face the task of addressing key personnel decisions, including possible coaching hires, while continuing to evolve the offense that Schottenheimer has had a hand in shaping for the last several years.
