If you were hoping the past few days would bring clarity or relief from the speculation surrounding the Cowboys’ next head coach, the news is unlikely to provide comfort. The team has officially named offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, putting an end to any lingering hope for a more dynamic hire.
Rumors swirled about other potential candidates. Pete Carroll’s name was mentioned before he took the Raiders job. There was talk of Packers special teams coach Rich Bisaccia. Even the idea of Deion Sanders making a triumphant return was floated. But none of these options materialized. Instead, it’s Schottenheimer.
Speaking to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night via Twitter/X, Jerry Jones made the announcement: “Cowboys are hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, Jerry Jones tells ESPN. ‘Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant,’ Jones said. ‘He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.’”
Schottenheimer has officially been named head coach. His first name, however, remains Brian.
Cowboys Land a Career Assistant
The Cowboys’ three-week coaching search included interviews with notable candidates. Among them were Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, a former Cowboys OC, Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier, and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
No additional interviews were formally announced, and the team ultimately selected a coach who received no interest from other franchises for a head coaching role. In Schottenheimer, they’ve hired a coach no other team was pursuing.
At 51 years old, Schottenheimer brings plenty of experience. The son of legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer, he entered the coaching ranks early. He began as an assistant with the Rams in 1997 at just 24 years old.
While he has never been a head coach, Schottenheimer has spent 14 years as an offensive coordinator, including the past two seasons with the Cowboys. He’s worked as a quarterbacks coach for eight years, had a three-year stint in college football, and served as a Cowboys consultant in 2022.
Now, he takes on the role of head coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
