On Friday evening, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to hire offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s head coach.
The move wasn’t a surprise given the reporting that surfaced in recent days, but it was still quite puzzling given the candidates who were available and Schottenheimer’s credentials.
NFL World Reacts To Cowboys’ Shocking Brian Schottenheimer Hire
Cowboys legend Dez Bryant, one of the most outspoken former players in team history, did not mince words when he heard Schottenheimer was hired to replace Mike McCarthy as the Cowboys’ head coach.
“Somebody is getting sabotaged,” Bryant said on social media. “Smh.”
Somebody is getting sabotaged.
Smh
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 25, 2025
Unfortunately for Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, Bryant was not the only one who disliked the hire. The criticism was widespread among former players and NFL analysts.
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel said the Schottenheimer hire is exactly what he expects from Jones at this point.
Is Brian Schottenheimer really a shocking hire if he gets the Cowboys' job?
No….This is exactly what we've come to expect from Jerry Jones. This is what he wants.
Scoop City🎥: https://t.co/2QNfw7grU4 pic.twitter.com/UhoWwWjXF8
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 24, 2025
NFL Network personality and former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger second-guessed the hire, as many are in NFL circles.
“Dallas Cowboys are you sure about this?” he posted.
.@dallascowboys are you sure about this?
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) January 25, 2025
Former NFL punter and ESPN personality Pat McAfee had this to say about the hire: “HOLY SCHIT Schotty got the gig down in Dallas.”
Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III flat-out killed the hire.
“The Dallas Cowboys aren’t serious about winning,” he said.
The Dallas Cowboys aren’t serious about winning.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 25, 2025
Rhett Lewis of the NFL Network, on the other hand, loved the hire. He could not stop raving about Schottenheimer and how he’ll grow into the position.
“If you love football, you’re gonna love this hire,” Lewis said. “Brian Schottenheimer has been preparing his whole life for this opportunity and the worth that’s been done in the dark by Brian personally to grow and earn this opportunity is a testament to his desire and determination.”
If you love football, you're gonna love this hire. Brian Schottenheimer has been preparing his whole life for this opportunity and the work that's been done in the dark by Brian personally to grow and earn this opportunity is a testament to his desire & determination. https://t.co/7Nv4PhisW2
— Rhett Lewis (@RhettNFL) January 25, 2025
David Helman, a host on NFL on FOX podcasts, pointed out that it’s too early to judge Schottenheimer but ripped Jones for having a faulty process.
“We don’t know Brian Schottenheimer will be a failure any more than we know Ben Johnson will be a success,” Helman said. “Coaching hires are weird & hard to predict. Few people thought highly of Dan Campbell in 2021 etc etc etc.
“We do know that it REEKS of bad process to fart around for eight days with a head coach who needs a new contract, fail to retain him after missing an interview window for coveted candidates, bring in two former head coaches who are not in high demand, one outside assistant you already have a relationship with and *then* choose the guy down the hall who a) is not drawing interest elsewhere b) has not been a head coach c) has not called plays for you and d) has had mixed results when he has called an offense in the past.
“It’s not to say Schottenheimer can’t be a success, or that he’s not a good dude. Just that the process of getting to him feels neither thorough nor inventive, which doesn’t (and shouldn’t) inspire confidence. Especially since the people running this process would have you believe this is a desirable job.”
We don’t know Brian Schottenheimer will be a failure any more than we know Ben Johnson will be a success. Coaching hires are weird & hard to predict. Few people thought highly of Dan Campbell in 2021 etc etc etc.
We do know that it REEKS of bad process to fart around for eight…
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) January 25, 2025
Evaluating Schottenheimer’s Credentials
Schottenheimer just concluded his third season in Dallas, beginning his tenure in 2021 as a consultant before taking the reins as offensive coordinator in 2023. The Cowboys ranked 16th in total offense in 2024, with 5,583 total yards, 328.4 yards per game, and 20.6 points per game.
In PFN’s Offense+ metric, the Cowboys received a D+ grade (68.2), which ranked No. 23 in the NFL. They ranked 28th in passing success rate and 29th in EPA (expected points added) per dropback. Before Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury in Week 9, Dallas ranked 27th and 22nd in those respective categories.
Outside of that, Jones seems enamored with Schottenheimer’s impressive résumé. He’s the son of legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer, which helped pave the way for an expansive football career spanning nearly 28 years.
The younger Schottenheimer has coached at the collegiate level — wide receivers coach at Syracuse (1999), tight ends coach at USC (2000), offensive coordinator at Georgia (2015) — interspersed with big-time jobs in the NFL, including offensive coordinator roles with the New York Jets, the then-St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Cowboys.
The 2023 Cowboys were the No. 1 scoring offense in Schottenheimer’s first year as offensive coordinator but fell to 23rd amid injuries to Prescott, Zack Martin, and CeeDee Lamb. In Schottenheimer’s 14 seasons as offensive coordinator, it’s the fifth time he’s had a team rank 20th or worse in PPG and the seventh time they’ve ranked in the bottom half of the league.
Since PFN’s Offense+ metric began in 2019, Schottenheimer has had four seasons as a team’s offensive coordinator. Here’s how those teams fared and where they ranked:
- 2024 Cowboys: 68.2 (D+), 23rd
- 2023 Cowboys: 83.7 (B), 4th
- 2020 Seahawks: 82.6 (B-), 12th
- 2019 Seahawks: 78.0 (C+), 12th
