Not picking names out of a hat

FRISCO, Texas – When the Cowboys started this head coaching search, prepared to interview defensive-minded coaches like Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier, and of course, Kellen Moore’s name was thrown together, found out there was another candidate.

One whose name hadn’t made the list of usual suspects.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, comes the name that surprises the most.

And don’t think this is the Cowboys picking a name out of a hat. This has been a possibility ever since the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy could not agree on the length of a contract extension. Not exactly the comfort potential hire it has been portrayed to be since Detroit coordinators Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears head coaching job and Aaron Glenn, as expected, lands with the Jets. And let’s face it, even though there are NFL restrictions on interviews, you guarantee their agents had negotiated these deals behind the scenes.

Face it. Schotty has coached 25 years in the NFL. Three years in college. The past three seasons here with the Cowboys, added a 10th^th NFL stops to his resume, first as a team consultant in 2021 with an eye on analyzing the defense, and the last two as the offensive coordinator, with McCarthy taking on those duties after Moore’s departure in 2023, and remember time of so much for Dak Prescott’s chagrin.

So what makes Schottenheimer a potentially appealing choice? Aside from being raised by his head coaching father Marty Schottenheimer, who was an NFL lifer and head coach of the original Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, then-Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers over a total of 21 years, not to mention a six- year NFL playing career and 10 more years as an NFL assistant coach. And remember, it was Marty who gave McCarthy his first job as an NFL assistant back in 1993 with the Chiefs when Brian was just 20 years old.

Think about it, the now 51-year-old Schottenheimer spent all but the first few months of his formative years as the son of an NFL coach.

Again, why potentially Schottenheimer, who was for his second interview on Wednesday?

Remember what pointed out on Friday. Regardless of who is hired as the Cowboys’ 10th^th head coach of the franchise is now 66–year’s history, then you have to tell me who the offensive coordinator is if it’s not actually Moore? My guess would be if it’s Brian as the head coach also answering to the coordinator’s job, and continuity in an offense that has already changed three times since Dak arrived in 2016 is more than enough. Don’t need a third time in now five years.

And it’s not as if Schotty hasn’t been an offensive coordinator in more than name before. Three times in the NFL and one year at the University of Georgia. First from 2006-11 with the Jets, finishing second in the AFC East four times and third twice, in addition to qualifying for the playoffs three times and advancing to the AFC Championship Bame twice, losing to the Colts and Steelers. Additionally, during that 2009 season, the Jets advanced to the AFC Championship Game with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.

From there Schottenheimer St. Louis Rams’ OC under head coach Jeff Fisher (2012-14). There he was saddled with injury-plagued QB Sam Bradford, then the likes of Kellen Clemens, Shaun Hill and Austin Davis, who incidentally scored 31 points in a 34-31 loss to the playoff-bound Cowboys during the game. 2014 season, completed 30 of 42 passes for 327 yards, two touchdowns, one pick and a 98.0 QB rating.

Later, it would be the OC of the Seattle Seahawks (2018-20) with Russell Wilson as his quarterback, and in 2020 the Seahawks went 12-4, won the NFC West and scored a franchise record 459 points, an average of 28.7 a game, while working for Pete Carroll, the third of three playoff appearances during his reign there.

So even as he bounces around, Schottenheimer has created success as an offensive coordinator, not to mention taking over rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville as passing coordinator in Urban Meyer’s lone NFL head coaching season (2-11) before being fired. And as we know, assistants go down with head coaches, and with the Jags hiring Doug Pederson as head coach, he was supposed to run that offense but has recently been fired.

You have to believe Dak is a supporter of Schottenheimer, and don’t forget with the amount the Cowboys have invested in Dak, they better make sure he’s happy. Always good to have the quarterback in your corner. Seems to have the personality to run the room, judging by how Brian handles his weekly coordinator’s media sessions over the last two seasons.

Hopefully this is over sooner rather than later if Schotty is to get his, er, shot.

• Now DC saw: That’s right, now the question becomes if the head coach isn’t a defensive guy who takes over on the other side of the ball. Mike Zimmer wants to remain the defensive coordinator, which certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing, right? Especially after the defense grew some teeth in the latter part of the season, and considering what Zimm had to say there toward the end, pointing out, “I just did things I was uncomfortable with. I had to just do what I had to So here was the situation: They were good last year, weren’t they, and I probably wasn’t that tough hard-nosed about things – about how I wanted to do things – is the best way to put it, and that’s what I most regrets.” But if Zimm wants to move on to his ranch in Kentucky and enjoy life, here’s a thought for DC, and the guy is free, at least for now. What about former Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus, who was recently fired as the Bears’ head coach? He has served as the DC and associate head coach at the University of Missouri and for four seasons as the Colts’ DC before landing the job with the Bears. Pretty sharp defensive mind. Problem with the Bears, he’s a defensive-minded coach who couldn’t fix the awful offense, even with the first pick in the NFL Draft, QB Caleb Williams. Remember Flus.
• No bones: Too bad John “Bones” Fassel, with his contract expiring like the rest of the Cowboys assistant coaches, decided to take bets and take the special teams coordinator position with the Tennessee Titans. A good hand, and I understand that the Cowboys were working to keep him even though they hadn’t decided on the head coaching position.
• Reckless History: Now it’s open season to criticize the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones, but beware of piling on. Get the facts right about how the Cowboys hired Jason Garrett for an initially unspecified position with an eye toward offensive coordinator back in 2007 before eventually naming Wade Phillips as head coach. So now, 18 years later, for those who weren’t out of their diapers back then, guess, well, it’s Jerry putting the cart before the horse. Not so. Get this, after Garrett spent just two years as the Dolphins QB coach under head coach Nick Saban, offers were swirling. Saban wanted to bring Garrett to Alabama, where he bailed from Miami to become the Crimson Tide’s head coach. Former Cowboys assistant Butch Davis requested permission to bring Jason to Cleveland. Calls came from the Rams, LSU, North Carolina, and since he was still under contract for another season with the Dolphins, they wanted to extend his three-year contract. Because of that, Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga denied them all permission to speak with Jason. Except the Cowboys, knowing Jason had played there, lived there all those years. Huizenga did Jones and Jason a favor, telling Jerry that week he had a Thursday deadline if he wanted to hire Jason. So, still not having settled on a boss, coach and not officially hiring Wilson until Feb. 8, the Cowboys met the deadline or else. They hired Garrett on Thursday January 25, 2007. So stop the rhetoric and now you know the factual story.
• Short-handed shots: On Feb. 15, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame will induct former Cowboys defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones as one of eight in the Class of 2025 in Waco, Texas, honoring his 15-year career, matching the franchise’s second-longest . history to only Jason Witten and LP Ladouceur (16) … And entering the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Class of 2025 this year will be former Cowboys defensive back Dennis Thurman and linebacker Darrin Smith … And remember to warn the Detroit Lions Washington Commanders “charmed existence” this season, well, the charm struck again in a 31-28 Commanders lead. Facing a fourth-and-2 at the Detroit 5-yard line, lined up to go for the first down, and of all things, the game is stopped: the Lions had 12 guys on the field, the half distance and, of course, Washington scored. two plays later to take a commanding 38-28 lead in the 45-31 rout of no. 1 seed … So the same goes for the Eagles on Sunday … Be careful.

And allow me once again to have the last word this week regarding this Cowboys head coaching search along with restructuring the coaching staff as all contracts are also up.

See nothing wrong with this idea of ​​hiring former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten as an assistant coach in some capacity, giving him a head start on a potential NFL coaching career. Great player. Smart player. Knows his football, although he only coached at the high school level at TAPPS-level Liberty Christian in Argyle, Texas, where his two sons have played. Witten, the head coach, has won back-to-back private school state titles at a school that had three straight losing seasons before arriving in 2022. And he appears to be itching to break into the NFL.

Hey, if nothing else, Witten can become an “accountability” coach.