Dallas Cowboys make a key decision they can't afford to get wrong ahead of 2025 NFL season
The Dallas Cowboys interviewed multiple candidates for their running back coach position over the weekend and as expected, they're kicking off the week with a hire. Derrick Foster, who coached running backs for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, will become the next Cowboys RB coach, per Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. The decision comes […]
The Dallas Cowboys interviewed multiple candidates for their running back coach position over the weekend and as expected, they're kicking off the week with a hire.
Derrick Foster, who coached running backs for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, will become the next Cowboys RB coach, per Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram.
The decision comes after the Cowboys also interviewed Longhorns RB coach Tashard Choice and Oregon's Ra'Shaad Samples.
Foster previously coached the same position for the Los Angeles Chargers and his arrival to the team coincided with Austin Ekeler's rise. Prior to Foster, Ekeler failed to cross the 600-rushing-yard mark in his first four years in the league. With Foster, Ekeler averaged 818 rushing yards per season and scored 38 total touchdowns between 2021 and 2022.
Though many will look at this as a small hire given it's a position coach and not a coordinator or play-caller, this will be an important one to get right for Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
After all, it's become clear Dallas will heavily emphasize the run game under his reign.
“We want to be able to run the ball," Stephen Jones told reporters at the Senior Bowl. "That’s what great championship football teams do (…) I think it’s real important that we find in this hire a coach that’s going to be outstanding in the run game area.”
Hiring offensive coordinator Klayton Adams was the first step: He's expected to integrate gap schemes, mainly counter, after running such concepts at a league-leading rate in Arizona. Adams' experience working with the offensive line should help spark a new mindset when running the ball in Dallas, where the run game has become bland with plenty of inside zone concepts and little variety.
Running such a varied offense requires attention to detail, and Foster will need to provide it in the running back room, which is expected to include pending free agent Rico Dowdle. Additionally, the Cowboys are likely to target a running back in the NFL Draft in April.
With a rookie likely to be in the mix and a new scheme coming to town, Dallas can't afford to get the Foster hire wrong.
Asked if the Cowboys were going to use a running back by committee approach last month, Schottenheimer told Jane Slater from NFL Network, it will depend on who is on the roster.