The Dallas Cowboys promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the head coaching role on Jan. 24, and the team’s decision not to sign any of the top names involved in the job search has left former Cowboys legend Dez Bryant crestfallen.
Dez Bryant Bemoans Brian Schottenheimer’s Appointment as Cowboys Head Coach
NFL fans across the spectrum seem to collectively view the move as a step down for the franchise. Cowboys fans had been looking at the possibility of upgrading their coaching staff with some optimism. Rumored links to Deion Sanders, Ben Johnson, and other high-profile coaching candidates served only to stoke this fire.
Instead, they now have to stay content with the hiring of a first-time head coach. It has become hard for many of them to take Jerry Jones’ “all in” comment from the 2024 offseason seriously.
The former Cowboys wide receiver was active on social media as the news of Schottenheimer’s appointment broke. His reaction conveyed his dismay at the turn of events as he sent a quick-fire post.
“I honestly don’t know how to feel right now. I’m trying to understand what Jerry meant by saying he was ‘all in’. Maybe the coach is good, maybe he’s not, but my energy towards how the Cowboys have been mixing things doesn’t feel like success anytime soon..” Bryant said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
I honestly don't know how to feel right now..I'm trying to understand what Jerry meant by saying he was "all in". Maybe the coach is good, maybe he's not, but my energy towards how the Cowboys have been mixing things doesn't feel like success anytime soon..
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 25, 2025
His exasperated tone continued as he tried to rationalize staying neutral about the appointment while waiting for the Cowboys president to make his official statement.
It's no point for me to get riled up… I'm really looking forward to hearing Jerry's reason for this..saying this is what the players wanted…I'll argue that only 1 or 2 players were asked..and it was framed as what the team wanted…Somebody in the organization needs to step up… https://t.co/Cu6c6BgtD1
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 25, 2025
Bryant ended with a sentiment that many other Cowboys fans have expressed — there could be some internal sabotage in play.
Somebody is getting sabotaged.
Smh
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 25, 2025
Schottenheimer’s journey as an offensive coordinator has been a topsy-turvy one, to say the least. 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 New York Jets (ninth) finishing inside the top 10.
To his credit, he has also coordinated four consecutive top-10 scoring offenses between Seattle and Dallas before the 2024 Cowboys fell off, albeit with injuries as a contributing factor (Cowboys’ 2024 Offense+ grade: 68.2, 23rd in the NFL).
Bryant has a long track record of voicing his unfettered opinion about the Cowboys’ front-office moves. He recently had a spat with Micah Parsons regarding the team’s culture. Much like the rest of the fanbase, the retired receiver is reaching the end of his tether with Jones’ questionable moves.
This latest situation seems to have left him in more despair than ever and doubtful about the team’s ability to contend shortly.