Latest NFL head coaching hire may lead to Cowboys coach leaving Brian Schottenheimer’s staff

The Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff may be about to take a hit in the aftermath of the latest NFL head coaching hire.

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Jul 27, 2025; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko at training camp at the River Ridge Fields.
Jul 27, 2025; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko at training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is busy finding his next defensive coordinator, but now his Dallas Cowboys may have to replace another coach on the offensive side of the ball. And they may need to do it very soon.

That’s because on Monday, the Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley as their next head coach, and some believe a position coach on the Cowboys could follow him in order to get a promotion. Let’s break it down.

Steve Shimko could reunite with Hafley

Hafley, who is getting the top job in Miami after two years as defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, needs an offensive coordinator to lead things in the Dolphins. And Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko makes a lot of sense for the position.

Shimko coached for Hafley at Boston College from 2020 to 2023. In that span, Shimko went from coaching tight ends, to quarterbacks, and lastly secured a position as offensive coordinator. In December, NFL insider Connor Orr mentioned Shimko as a candidate to be Hafley’s OC wherever the latter ended up at.

Cowboys would miss Shimko

Though not often discussed by the fanbase, Shimko is an important part of Schottenheimer’s staff, and he even is involved in play calling to some capacity, as shown in HBO’s Hard Knocks. In a scene from the Cowboys’ regular season loss to the Detroit Lions, Schottenheimer is shown asking Shimko for plays featuring CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens.

Not to mention, Dak Prescott played one of his best two seasons in his NFL career. While talent at wide receiver played a big hand in that, it also speaks well of Shimko’s work.

With Hafley taking over the Dolphins on Monday, expect Shimko to at least be interviewed for the role. For now, the focus at The Star is in finding Matt Eberflus’ replacement, with multiple in-person interviews for the job lined up this week.

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