For the first time this decade, the Dallas Cowboys will have a new leader as Brian Schottenheimer takes the reigns ahead of the 2025 season.
Promoted from the offensive coordinator position, he replaces the outgoing Mike McCarthy, who agreed to part ways with the team at the end of his contract.
It didn’t take the Cowboys long to find their next leader, who has been a coordinator in the league for the last 14 years.
Now he gets the chance to step up and develop a relationship with Dak Prescott, who will return from injury ahead of training camp.
The quarterback missed nearly half of the 2024 season with a hamstring injury, which killed his team’s playoff hopes and saw them end the year with a 7-10 record.
Schottenheimer’s relationship with Prescott was important in the hire, and it gives the offense a stable platform from which to develop in the off-season.
Alex Smith questions whether the Dallas Cowboys are ‘even serious’ about winning
The problem with the Cowboys’ search for a new head coach is that they let it go on for too long, as big candidates were swept up with other teams.
There are a lot of men who would’ve had an issue with Jerry Jones’ heavy involvement, but they had a known quantity waiting in Schottenheimer.
Ex-NFL star Alex Smith questioned whether the team was serious about winning after hiring their new head coach, who steps into such a major role for the first time.
“I wish Schotty well, I know him a little bit, I think he’s a long-time really good football coach,” he said. “He’s never been a head football coach though and he hasn’t interviewed for a head coaching job in a long time.
“To think about how this entire process went down, makes me question if the Dallas Cowboys are even serious about winning.”
Why Mike McCarthy may have been the winner in Dallas Cowboys decision
LeSean McCoy blamed Prescott for McCarthy’s sacking, blaming his playoff record for playing a big role in his exit.
If the signal-caller is the problem, then Schottenheimer faces a similar issue and could find himself under pressure quite soon.
The Cowboys are now the owners of an unwanted record, suffering the longest drought since last going to a conference championship game in the NFC dating back to 1995.
Colin Cowherd thinks McCarthy won in the Cowboys’ decision, and he will now be one of the most coveted candidates for a job elsewhere.
Positions are filling quickly though, and there are only a few openings left already with teams moving ahead with their plans for the 2025 NFL draft, free agency and beyond.
