The Cowboys Hire Brian Schottenheimer as Head Coach

The Dallas Cowboys have named offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their 10th head coach in franchise history, a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked questions about the team’s decision-making process.

A Familiar Face with an Unfamiliar Role

Schottenheimer, who has spent the past two seasons as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy, has never held a head coaching position in the NFL. He had not been seriously considered for such a role since 2010, when he was the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets.

In addition, Schottenheimer did not call plays for the Cowboys during his tenure under McCarthy. That responsibility belonged to Moore in 2022 and McCarthy himself in 2023. As a result, Schottenheimer’s lack of experience as a playcaller and head coach has raised concerns about his qualifications for the position.

A Limited Search Process

The Cowboys’ search for a new head coach was notably limited compared to other teams with coaching vacancies. While other organizations interviewed numerous candidates, the Cowboys focused primarily on a small group of individuals, including two former head coaches (Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier) and Moore.

The decision to hire Schottenheimer, who had not received interest in any other head coaching vacancies this cycle, has left many wondering if the Cowboys were thorough enough in their search for a new leader.

A Glimmer of Hope

Despite the concerns surrounding Schottenheimer’s lack of experience and the limited search process, the Cowboys remain optimistic about their new head coach. They believe his familiarity with the team and his relationship with quarterback Dak Prescott will be key to their success moving forward.

The Cowboys are also assembling a veteran staff to support Schottenheimer, with former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus as the early favorite to become defensive coordinator.

The Ultimate Question: Process vs. Results

The Cowboys’ decision to hire Schottenheimer highlights the ongoing debate between process and results in the NFL. While the team claims to have conducted a thorough search, the limited number of candidates interviewed and Schottenheimer’s lack of experience raise questions about the quality of the process.

Ultimately, the success or failure of Schottenheimer’s tenure will depend on his ability to lead the team and produce results. However, the Cowboys’ questionable decision-making process leaves open the possibility that they may have missed out on a more qualified candidate.

The Lingering Doubt

As the Cowboys prepare for Brian Schottenheimer’s tenure in Dallas, the question remains: who still trusts the Joneses? The same decision-makers who hired Schottenheimer have a history of questionable coaching hires, dating back over 30 years. They have overseen a mere four playoff wins since their last Super Bowl victory and have endured the longest drought without reaching the conference championship game in the entire NFC.

The Cowboys’ decision to hire Schottenheimer is a gamble that could either pay off or backfire spectacularly. Only time will tell if the Cowboys’ faith in their new head coach is justified or if they have made another costly mistake.