Brian Schottenheimer sets the tone with strong message to Dallas Cowboys players after being introduced as head coach
The Dallas Cowboys introduced Brian Schottenheimer as the next head coach of the team and tenth in franchise history on Monday. With Dak Prescott and other key players in attendance, Schottenheimer addressed the media for the first time since the Cowboys announced his hiring last Friday. Schottenheimer, who served as the team's offensive coordinator in 2023 […]
The Dallas Cowboys introduced Brian Schottenheimer as the next head coach of the team and tenth in franchise history on Monday.
With Dak Prescott and other key players in attendance, Schottenheimer addressed the media for the first time since the Cowboys announced his hiring last Friday. Schottenheimer, who served as the team's offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024, shared an opening statement focusing on what the team would look like under his reign.
"To our players, you are the core of this program and we will focus on you everyday," Schottenheimer said. "To (players in attendance), it means the world to me that you are here. I can't wait to do this alongside you."
As for what we expects from his locker room, Schottenheimer set the tone with a strong message regarding the attitude he wants from Cowboys players.
"We're looking for world class competitors, guys that wanna compete every day to be the best version of themselves," he added. "We are looking for people with a relentless work ethic. You don't belong in this organization if you don't value relationships. This business has never been about Xs and Os. It's about people. People that love this game. The game of football has given me so much, my family so much. But if you're not passionate about the game of football and the shield and what it represents, then you are probably in the wrong business."
Schottenheimer is expected to call plays for the Cowboys in 2025 but his emphasis on Monday is set to be the same for the team he now leads: Relationships. He doubled down on the theme later in the presser when he admitted his biggest strength as head coach won't be the Xs and Os but the relationships.
"One of my greatest strengths is my ability to create relationships, relationships that are built on trust, respect, connection," Schottenheimer described. "I'm really good with X's and O's, but I'm great with people and the type of men that we have in this locker room are excited about that. And so I think as we build this thing out, as the culture comes together this team, that's where I feel like my greatest impact will be felt with the relationships, the ability to communicate. I've always been someone that was very good at having open dialog, hard conversations, and I've always tried to paint very clear bright lines, and that's what I plan to do as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys."
To succeed in such endeavor, Schottenheimer will draw from his learnings from two important persons for him: Marty Schottenheimer, his father and legendary NFL coach, and Pete Carroll.
"Going to Seattle was critical to my development as a coach," Schottenheimer said. "Pete Carroll challenged me in a number of ways. He challenged me to continue to be authentic, to continue to dive into the relationships that matter, which is your coaches, your players, ownership."
Schottenheimer was described by Jerry Jones as a "risky hire," and he sure is though maybe not in the way the Cowboys owner would like it to be. There's no question Schottenheimer is coming in with plenty of question marks surrounding him. If he's to prove the doubters wrong, it's going to be through his leadership and locker room skills. He believes he's got what it takes.
"I'm ready now. I know what I want. I know what it looks like."
