NFL insider provides clarity around the latest Dallas Cowboys' coaching rumor frustrating fans at the start of the week
Though the Dallas Cowboys have not interviewed Brian Schottenheimer, who held the offensive coordinator position for the team between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, his name is rapidly rising as a top candidate for the vacant head coaching job. The news is a surprise and has perplexed fans and media alike, but Schottenheimer appears to be […]
Though the Dallas Cowboys have not interviewed Brian Schottenheimer, who held the offensive coordinator position for the team between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, his name is rapidly rising as a top candidate for the vacant head coaching job.
The news is a surprise and has perplexed fans and media alike, but Schottenheimer appears to be in the conversation after becoming the odds-on favorite on DraftKings over the weekend.
Despite what the betting world thinks, however, NFL insider Adam Schefter from ESPN cleared the air a little on Monday when he indicated the Cowboys hadn't approached Schottenheimer about the job.
"I think Brian Schottenheimer is the favorite in Las Vegas here," Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. "Now that doesn't mean that Brian Schottenheimer isn't going to be the head coach at some point in time. We never rule out anything. But to the best of my knowledge he hadn't even interviewed for the job and Dallas hadn't approached about being the head coach."
As Schefter notes, it doesn't mean he won't wind up as head coach but fans will find his report somewhat relieving after early reporting made the the hire feel inevitable. On Saturday, Jimmy Johnson brought him up as a legit candidate before he overtook Kellen Moore and Deion Sanders, among many others, to be the betting favorite.
Schefter added the Cowboys do like Schottenheimer and that they want him on the staff.
"I think the Cowboys absolutely love and respect Brian Schottenheimer and they want him there," Schefter said. "But I don't know that that's as the head coach right now. Again the process will unfold and we'll see what twists and turns it takes and maybe it leads them back to Brian Schottenheimer as a head coaching candidate."
The above raises more questions, and one in particular comes to mind: If Moore is the Cowboys' choice, which I and many others have predicted him to be, does it make sense to keep Schottenheimer as OC?
After all, Moore is the play-caller and it'd make little sense to have someone with a different philosophy under him. Moore has been under McCarthy, Scott Linehan, and Jason Garrett in the past. If hired, the Cowboys would be better off letting him pick his offensive staff to fulfill his vision.
How much do the Cowboys like Schottenheimer and could they make it a condition he stays on board as OC when they offer candidates the head coaching job? They did it before with Moore and McCarthy. That line of thinking could lead to Dallas seeing Schottenheimer as a Plan B should their search not end like they want it to.
However this ends up, the Cowboys' search for their next head coach hasn't been the most promising one as they have yet to schedule interviews with several promising candidates such as Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Todd Monken, and others. Schottenheimer emerging out of left field as the betting favorite adds to a long list of concerns.
