The Dallas Cowboys recently decided to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract with the organization was up. After weighing McCarthy’s future, owner Jerry Jones ultimately opted not to renew his deal.
After meeting with numerous coaches, Jones and Co. decided to promote offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Let’s examine Schottenheimer’s coaching career and whether this is the right move.
Why Brian Schottenheimer Is a Good Hire for Cowboys
The 2023 Cowboys were the top-ranked scoring offense in Schottenheimer’s first year as offensive coordinator but fell to 23rd amid injuries to Dak 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
Schottenheimer has been the offensive coordinator for four franchises over the course of 12 seasons: the Cowboys (2023-24), Seahawks (2018-20), Rams (2012-14), and Jets (2006-11). In that span he’s coached under McCarthy, Pete Carroll, Jeff Fisher, Rex Ryan, and Eric Mangini.
Brian Schottenheimer has been hired as the head coach of the Cowboys.
During his time in the NFL, he has coached under Mike McCarthy, Pete Carroll, Jeff Fisher, Rex Ryan, and Eric Mangini.
He's now the third head coach Jerry Jones has hired without previous HC experience. pic.twitter.com/g8ZG7rlCwH
— PFSN (@PFN365) January 25, 2025
In eight of his first nine seasons as an offensive coordinator, Schottenheimer’s teams ranked 13th or lower in scoring offense, with only the 2008 Jets (ninth) finishing in the top 10. However, he coordinated four consecutive top-10 scoring offenses between Seattle and Dallas prior to the 2024 Cowboys falling off.
This is an offensive-driven league. Since the start of 2022, here are the top-5 scoring teams and where they rank in playoff game count over that stretch:
- Detroit Lions (29 PPG): Four playoff games (T-6th)
- Buffalo Bills (28.6 PPG): Six playoff games (T-2nd)
- Philadelphia Eagles (26.9 PPG): Six playoff games (T-2nd)
- Baltimore Ravens (26.5 PPG): Five playoff games (5th)
- San Francisco 49ers (26.1 PPG): Six playoff games (T-2nd)
Why Brian Schottenheimer Is a Bad Hire for Cowboys
This is a win-now job, and recent Dallas head coaches haven’t had instant success. Mike McCarthy went 6-10 in his first season, while Jason Garrett didn’t have a winning season until his fourth full year at the helm (he was the interim head coach for the second half of the 2010 season).
The Garrett profile is interesting – he, too, was an offensive mind who had spent time with the franchise in a coordinator role prior to being handed the keys.
During his first three seasons, offensive growth wasn’t an issue (+6.3% points per drive compared to the year prior to him assuming the full-time role), but the defense took a step back (5.6% more yards allowed per game).
Schottenheimer is the third head coach hired by Jones without prior head coaching experience in the NFL or college. The first two hires had mixed results.
Garrett achieved four winning seasons and four 8-8 seasons during his nine full seasons as head coach. Dave Campo, on the other hand, recorded three consecutive 5-11 seasons.
McCarthy went 49-35 in five seasons with the Cowboys and won just seven games this year, failing to live up to preseason expectations.