After Mike McCarthy was removed, the Dallas Cowboys contracted Brian Schottenheimer as head coach. Will he be able to achieve success for the club and the fans?
The Dallas Cowboys are making a clean start following the dismissal of head coach McCarthy during the 2024 off-season.
The Cowboys have signed on Schottenheimer and he will serve as head coach during the upcoming seasons. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that he will serve a four-year term, and that Schottenheimer will begin his role immediately. Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner, heaped praise on Schottenheimer by saying:
“Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant. He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”
Before deciding on Schottenheimer, the Cowboys spoke to several other options, such as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, an ex-Jets head coach Robert Saleh, an ex-Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
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Who is Brian Schottenheimer?
Schottenheimer began his coaching career in 1997, at 24 years of age, after he was hired as an assistant coach. He was brought on as an analyst for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 and became the offensive coordinator the following year.
In the first year the team hired him, he oversaw the best offense in the league. Over the course of the season, the team averaged 29.9 points per game.
Unfortunately, in 2024 the team had a tough season and was only able to put up 20.6 points on average.
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Cowboys Struggles in 2024
The Cowboys closed out the 2024 season with a 7-10 record, the last season played under head coach Mike McCarthy. There were many injuries sustained throughout the season that had heavily impacted the team’s performance.
Quarterback Dak Prescott underwent hamstring surgery and missed the last nine games of the season.
Star edge rusher Micah Parsons sprained his left ankle and missed four games.
Even with these obstacles, the Cowboys are still perceived as a talented team. Prescott and CeeDee Lamb form a star quarterback-receiver pairing that is one of the best in the league.
The defense is also known to house a strong core that can be utilized effectively with different coaching approaches.
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What’s next for Dallas?
The 2025 NFL Draft will provide the Cowboys with the opportunity to fill the roster gaps that they have due to underperformance with the number 12 overall selection.
Despite not reaching the Super Bowl or moving beyond the Divisional Round since 1995, the team remains popular. Schottenheimer must now juggle fans’ expectations alongside the stress of being the Cowboys coach.
His promotion to head coach is a positive sign for Cowboys fans. If Schottenheimer can deliver stability and success, this will mark a new and more positive phase for the Dallas Cowboys.
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