FRISCO, Texas – Sitting behind the curtain of workouts and culture building during Brian Schottenheimer's first offseason as an NFL head coach, lies the realization of a life-long dream.
Thursday marked the end to Schottenheimer's first offseason program in Dallas as their walkthrough completed the three-day minicamp. It was the first time that he's composed an entire offseason program, and the final time the Cowboys roster will be together until training camp begins in late-July.
Rookie minicamp, OTA practices, and minicamp allowed the organization a first glance at what Schottenheimer's era as head coach could look like. The early emphasis was focused on creating fellowship and competition between both players and coaches. Meanwhile for Schotty, it also centered around achieving a career-long quest to be a head coach, as he executed his offseason strategy.
"I think we showed that you can throw a hell of a practice in an OTA tempo without having guys on the ground, without having collisions," Schottenheimer said. "I just feel like as a whole, they took the instruction that we gave them, they applied it, and they did it at a really, really fast level."
One big help this week was the "perfect attendance" mark hit during minicamp, despite seeing contract disputes and other holdouts across the league. Instead of being weighed down by outside factors, the entire Cowboys roster was present for his first minicamp. An important milestone for Schottenheimer's first camp as head coach.
It was also a Summer of learning for the first-year head coach along with his first-year coaching staff. Most of which are finding a rhythm in a new environment. Making each practice and meeting crucial to building confidence within the staff, while challenging each other to get outside of their comfort zone.
"We always want to coach the coaches," Schottenheimer said. "We look for opportunities for the younger coaches to get up in front of position groups and lead meetings and do things. The thought is you develop the guys in the building that you believed in enough to hire and begin to talk about your culture and your vision and things like that."
Then, when addressing the players following Thursday's final walkthrough, Schottenheimer admitted to getting emotional. Because of their commitment to work and their competitive nature showcased throughout the Summer.
"I told 'em I love 'em and I got a little emotional," Schottenheimer said. "These guys gave us everything that we've asked for this spring, and I think they'll do that when we get started out in Oxnard."
"I think Schotty's done a great job in minicamp of putting guys in places," Dak Prescott added about his new head coach. "Putting guys in space and allowing guys to see how he's going to use them."
Another admission from Schottenheimer was his internal evaluation for a first-year head coach leading an inaugural offseason program. Providing a gauge of how much was accomplished over the last few months and giving a benchmark while planning for training camp.
"I don't know if you ever get it all accomplished," Schottenheimer said. "I love where we're at right now offensively, just in terms of the changes and the adjustments and things that we're going to do. I feel good about that. There's always tweaks. I'm always evaluating things. I'm always looking for better ways to do things."
With a big break ahead and Father's Day this weekend, the completion of Schottenheimer's first step in his head coaching career holds a little more weight. Bringing fond memories of his late father and NFL coaching legend Marty Schottenheimer to the forefront.
"I know he is proud. I miss him," Schottenheimer said. "I would tell him that I used all the life lessons that he taught me, not just about football, but about life and being a good man and a good husband and a good father, and that I think I'm doing okay for myself. But I know he is proud. I miss him like crazy."
It's still extremely early in the grand scheme of things, but so far Schottenheimer appears to have made each day count since being named head coach. Delivering a carefully-crafted message and leading by example for the entire organization to see.
As the team enters a five-week break before training camp, Schottenheimer will continue to lean on the lessons learned and the connections built as the Cowboys prepare for Oxnard. Something he'll have no problem doing after the offseason concluded in Frisco.
"I love these guys. I want to be around these guys," Schottenheimer said. "There'll be some nights, I'm sure when I'm lying in bed on vacation. And thinking back to how this offseason has gone. Has it been perfect? No. Has it been really good? Yeah, it's been really good."
Views from the Dallas Cowboys 2025 minicamp practices at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, TX.
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
11 June 2024: Views
of the Dallas Cowboys during a minicamp practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
