FRISCO, Texas — The maiden voyage has officially set sail for Brian Schottenheimer as head coach of Dallas Cowboys. His first season is now in the books and his second offseason is well underway with its own share of headlines, from George Pickens to Brandon Aubrey to a completely overhauled defense now led by Christian Parker.
Not that it's exactly a secret, but things didn't end as intended thanks to a 7-9-1 finish in 2025, but it's fair to say Schottenheimer's offense was not the reason for the overall failure to make the playoffs.
It's also fair to say there were indeed growing pains on that side of the ball, however, but it's clear the Cowboys have the right man for the job — all things considered — able to get instant buy-in throughout the locker room and heavily influencing front office decision-making.
"He has an extremely unique way of connecting people and wanting to take feedback, positively and negatively, and being able to process that, and finding a way to get better," vice president of player personnel Will McClay said of Schottenheimer from the 2026 NFL Combine.
Schottenheimer is grading out very well both inside and outside of the building heading into his second season as the head coach and offensive playcaller, and McClay explained why that is.
"Typically, head coaches are very stern. They have a way, you know: 'It's my way.' So to be able to ask for input, handle it, still do your thing, but to also adjust to some of the insights of other people? That's a unique way. And he's very unique about that.
"And he's got a very personable way that he really cares about every coach and every player, and you feel that. So that's the greatest part about him."
With Pickens secured on a franchise tag (at the moment) and the team working to get Aubrey on a long-term deal, having also re-signed Javonte Williams to a three-year deal to kick off free agency in Dallas, the offense appears set and raring to pick up where it left off last season as one of the best in the NFL.
If Parker, Schottenheimer's hand-picked successor to Matt Eberflus, can repair the defense, the Cowboys will have a chance at being a contender in the season to come, but what's already clear is that the needle on Schottenheimer is aimed due north — a head coach, communicator, teacher willing to both deliver and receive the hard conversations.
That's a foundation for something special, if the Cowboys can get all the other pieces of the puzzle to fit the right way going forward.
