Dallas Cowboys Hire Brian Schottenheimer as 10th Head Coach in Franchise History
The Dallas Cowboys have officially hired Brian Schottenheimer as the 10th head coach in the franchise’s history. This marks another significant chapter in the team’s long and storied coaching history, which began with Tom Landry, the first head coach who served for 29 years. Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, has now hired his 10th head coach since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989 and firing Landry.
Schottenheimer, 51, has been with the Cowboys for the past three seasons, including serving as offensive coordinator for the last two. While he was instrumental in shaping the offense, head coach Mike McCarthy called the plays for the Cowboys during that period. Schottenheimer’s hiring follows an intensive two-day interview process this week, where he convinced the Cowboys that he was ready for the role of head coach despite no other external interest.
The Cowboys’ coaching search also included interviews with Seattle assistant Leslie Frazier, former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, and a virtual interview with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who Schottenheimer replaced as offensive coordinator in 2023.
Schottenheimer, who has spent over 25 years in the NFL, now gets the opportunity to lead the Cowboys to future success. As the team moves forward, Schottenheimer will have some ground to cover, as several assistant coaches have already found new positions. Among the most notable is former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, who is considered the front-runner for the defensive coordinator role, though the Cowboys will need to comply with the Rooney Rule before making an official hire.
The Cowboys will introduce Schottenheimer to the media at a press conference scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. CT. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the new head coach steps into a high-profile role for one of the NFL’s most valuable and storied franchises.
