'They don't get a say in that' – Brian Schottenheimer is shaking things up in Dallas Cowboys locker room ahead of 2025 season
Brian Schottenheimer is fixated on not changing the way he carries himself after being promoted from offensive coordinator to Dallas Cowboys head coach. But he's willing to shake things up inside the building in other ways. We've gotten some glimpses at that, starting with the Cowboys' approach in the NFL Draft, where high character and leadership […]
Brian Schottenheimer is fixated on not changing the way he carries himself after being promoted from offensive coordinator to Dallas Cowboys head coach. But he's willing to shake things up inside the building in other ways.
We've gotten some glimpses at that, starting with the Cowboys' approach in the NFL Draft, where high character and leadership intangibles were prioritized. Over the weekend, rookie minicamp provided more examples, including the team's locker room setup, where changes have been made and players have been moved around. One example insiders have revealed is Micah Parsons' seat is closer to Dak Prescott's.
None of that is random but rather the product of a method, as the Cowboys head coach explains.
"We moved some guys around this year—I did, along with the help of the staff and, again, they don’t really get a say in that," Schottenheimer told reporters Saturday. "But there’s a method to the madness. When the guys went into the team room for the first time, I made them all stand up after they sat down. I had them move seats. Why? It’s a new year. It’s 2025. We’ll do that in 2026, in 2027, and beyond."
Since Schottenheimer was introduced as Cowboys head coach in January, his message has focused on building a culture based on strong relationships within the locker room, something that has been noticeable throughout the offseason. In this case, he gets a chance to send the message of things being done differently.
"I think when you start a new year, you do something different—you change something up," Schottenheimer said. "So yeah, it’s something that’s talked about, thought about, but there’s a method to the madness at times."
Shaking up the seating order within the locker room won't translate into Super Bowl rings for Schottenheimer and the Cowboys. The team is still a long way from being a contender but it's clear the first-year head coach is trying to do things his way now that he has the biggest opportunity of his coaching career. We'll see how it pans out.
