The Dallas Cowboys and former head coach decided go to their separate ways last week, making for a substantial shakeup in the NFL offseason coaching cycle. While the next head coach will very likely have some sort of connection to Dallas, many believed a new hire could mean a new staff.
Those theories do not come without good reason. Already, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has publicly contemplated retirement and special-teams coordinator John Fassel left for an opening with the Tennessee Titans.
However, one member of this season’s staff has suddenly emerged to not only stay on board, but slot in as the next head coach. Monday, Brian Schottenheimer became the betting favorite on DraftKings to become the next Cowboys head coach almost out of thin air.
That has now translated into reality with Schottenheimer getting an interview with the team. But how viable of a candidate is Schottenheimer?
We allow four Cowboys insiders to weigh in …
Monday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter attempted to providee clarity into the Cowboys’ true feelings about “Schotty” during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
“I think the Cowboys absolutely love and respect Brian Schottenheimer and they want him there,” Schefter said. “But I don’t know that that’s as the head coach right now. Again the process will unfold and we’ll see what twists and turns it takes and maybe it leads them back to Brian Schottenheimer as a head coaching candidate.”
As often happens with Schefter, he just spoke in circles.
How about NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport?
“The Cowboys re expected to interview their own OC Brian Schottenheimer for their vacant head coaching job,” he wrote. “Well-respected in the building, Schottenheimer has been an OC for more than a decade. Intriguing option to take the next step.”
Rap Sheet there advances the ball beyond Schefter’s tail-chasing.
How about 105.3 The Fan’s Shan Shariff, the first person to mention Schottenheimer being involved?
“Hearing an offer could be coming soon for Brian Schottenheimer,” Shariff wrote on Tuesday in an eyebrow-raiser (and a piece of information that has sadly now been stolen by dozens of “beat writers.” Also, note how Shariff smartly avoids being specific about a proposed role.)
And how about a take from our own Mike Fisher, with 35 years of experience covering Jerry Jones’ Cowboys?
Don’t crush Schotty here; be angry about Jerry’s grab-bag lack of a #Cowboys plan. https://t.co/6ocwaZ4Q0l
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) January 22, 2025
“Don’t crush Schotty here,” Fish writes. “Be angry about Jerry’s grab-bag lack of a Cowboys plan.”
That interview could change things and his experience working with quarterback Dak Prescott certainly bodes well for him. However, Schottenheimer lacks the experience becoming of an NFL head coach.
Not all head coach hires take the job with such experience, but Schottenheimer has not called plays since he held the role of offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks from 2018 to 2020. He has the same title in Dallas though McCarthy handled all play calling duties.
So what this all mean as it relates to his viability as a candidate? Scoring the interview shows at least some level of interest, meaning the Cowboys could look to keeping him on staff. … so in that sense, we can continue to kick around the names of other candidates as head coach.
For sure, Schotty’s familiarity with Prescott and the presence around The Star in recent years plays into his favor with a chance at a job … in some capacity.
