The Dallas Cowboys have initiated their search for a new head coach by conducting an internal interview with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. This meeting took place on Tuesday night and marks Schottenheimer as the first known internal candidate for the coaching position following the departure of Mike McCarthy.
At 51 years old, Schottenheimer brings a family legacy to the role, being the son of the late NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer. He joined the Cowboys as a consultant back in 2022 and has served as the offensive coordinator for the past two seasons while McCarthy primarily handled play-calling duties.
The coaching landscape shifted this year when McCarthy assumed play-calling responsibilities in 2023 after parting ways with Kellen Moore, who is now the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Moore, alongside former NFL head coaches Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier, is one of the external candidates that Dallas has already considered in their search. Moore previously served as the play-caller for Dak Prescott from 2019 to 2022.
Last week marked the conclusion of McCarthy’s tenure with the Cowboys; his five-year contract expired, prompting him to explore opportunities such as an interview with the Chicago Bears, who ultimately opted for Detroit’s offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson. Interestingly, McCarthy began his NFL career on the Kansas City staff under Marty Schottenheimer back in 1993.
Throughout the last two seasons, Brian Schottenheimer forged a strong bond with quarterback Dak Prescott, which could benefit the franchise quarterback as he embarks on the first year of a massive four-year, $240 million contract—the first NFL deal to average $60 million annually.
Schottenheimer has a substantial history in offensive play-calling, with previous roles as an offensive coordinator for the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, and Seattle Seahawks spanning from 2006 to 2020. This past season saw Prescott enjoying one of the best performances of his career under the combined efforts of McCarthy and Schottenheimer, although the team faced a downturn in performance early on, culminating in a disappointing 7-10 finish and the end of their streak of three consecutive playoff-qualifying years with 12-5 records.
In addition to coaching talks, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has engaged in informal discussions with Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. The Hall of Famer, who enjoyed five seasons with the Cowboys and played a crucial role in securing the team’s last Super Bowl title at the conclusion of the 1995 season, remains a notable figure in the organization’s history.
