Brian Schottenheimer Named New Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys
Schottenheimer Becomes the Ninth Head Coach Hired by Owner Jerry Jones Since 1989
DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys have officially promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach, the team announced Friday night.
The decision, which comes as a slight surprise, ensures continuity for quarterback Dak Prescott, who has worked closely with Schottenheimer over the past two seasons. Schottenheimer’s elevation follows the departure of former head coach Mike McCarthy, who parted ways with the team last week after his contract expired.
Despite Prescott’s public support for McCarthy’s return, the Cowboys opted to go in a new direction with Schottenheimer, making him the ninth head coach hired by owner Jerry Jones since he took over the team in 1989. Jones’ first coaching move was dismissing Tom Landry, the legendary Hall of Fame coach who led the franchise for its first 29 seasons.
Schottenheimer’s appointment also marks the seventh coaching hire for Jones since the Cowboys last advanced beyond the divisional round of the playoffs in 1995, the year they won their fifth Super Bowl title. Jones initially brought in McCarthy, a former Super Bowl-winning coach with Green Bay, to break Dallas’ long-standing playoff drought, but the team struggled to make deep postseason runs.
During McCarthy’s tenure, the Cowboys made three consecutive playoff appearances from 2021 to 2023 but secured only one postseason victory. Schottenheimer, 51, now assumes the challenge of elevating the team’s performance at the highest level.
The son of the late NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian Schottenheimer brings 25 years of NFL coaching experience, including 14 seasons as an offensive coordinator. However, this will be his first opportunity as a head coach.
Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys as a consultant in 2022 before being promoted to offensive coordinator when McCarthy took over play-calling duties in 2023. Under that structure, Prescott had one of his best seasons, finishing as the runner-up in NFL MVP voting. However, Dallas faltered late in the season, culminating in a stunning home wild-card loss to Green Bay.
Schottenheimer’s second year in Dallas proved more challenging, even before Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury. The Cowboys finished with a disappointing 7-10 record, ending a streak of three consecutive 12-5 seasons.
Before his tenure in Dallas, Schottenheimer served as Seattle’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020, where he helped guide quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks to three straight top-10 finishes in scoring offense, though the team struggled in the playoffs. His previous offensive coordinator stints include six seasons with the New York Jets (2006-2011) and three with the St. Louis Rams (2012-2014).
The Cowboys conducted virtual interviews with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore—Prescott’s former play-caller from 2019 to 2022. They also held in-person meetings with former head coaches Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier, while owner Jerry Jones reportedly had informal discussions with Colorado head coach and former Cowboys star Deion Sanders.
Schottenheimer now faces the daunting task of revitalizing the Cowboys and steering them toward a long-awaited return to Super Bowl contention.