Dallas Cowboys owns Jerry Jones says the new coach, other traits made to ‘compete right now’

New Orleans (AP) -Jry Jones said he decided to hire Brian Schottenheimer as Dallas’ coach and sign quarterback Dak Prescott for a $ 240 million, four-year contract because cowboys are in a win-down mode and have to compete for super Bowls.

The Cowboys owner went on the red carpet on Thursday night on the NFL’s Heads and said he thought Schottenheimer was the right coach to lead the franchise to a Super Bowl title. 51-year-old Son of deceased Marty Schottenheimer Was promoted last month from offensive coordinator to be the 10th trainer in the history of the great franchise.

Cowboys strangers him less than two weeks after Separate ways with Mike McCarthyThere, Schottenheimer brought in as a consultant in 2022. McCarthy’s contract expired after a 7-10 season.

Jones told The Associated Press that Schottenheimer’s football family boundary-marty Schottenheimer went 200-126-1 in 21 seasons as NFL-coach-was a key factor in the decision.

“We called it Osmosis sitting around the breakfast table,” he said. “He made a young life out of asking his father to help him be around organizations so he could as much football as he might. So he is no accident. But he has actually had a lot of experience in being a first time head coach. I thought we could bet on it. “

Schottenheimer was considered a favorite in the dressing room. Jones defended the rent on Thursday night – just as he did at a news conference last month – and brushed after the hint that he was making a transforming step by promoting a coach on the existing staff.

“It gives us some continuity, but lets us get another shot on it,” Jones said.

Schottenheimer was the ninth coach hired by Jones since he was bought the team in 1989. He will be the seventh coach since the last time Cowboys reached an NFC championship game -in the 1995 season on his way to their fifth Super Bowl title. It is the longest drought in the NFC without reaching the conference title.

Cowboys went to the playoffs three consecutive years with 12-5 records under McCarthy, but was 1-3 in the post-season.

“The decisions I make are not based on reconstruction,” Jones told AP. “They are based on competing. And competing now. The decisions I made last year were based on competing now. Now they didn’t work exactly. But I think I paid DAK more than anyone has ever been paid in the NFL. It is now. It’s not the future. We are excited about our team’s ability to compete right now. “

___

AP Pro -Football Writer Rob Maddi contributed to this report.

___

AP NFL: