FRISCO, Texas — The search for the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys continues, and it's not exclusive to candidates that are currently outside of the building. With several of those being interviewed as well, however, an internal magnifying glass has been dispatched to take a look at Brian Schottenheimer, the team's current offensive coordinator whose contract expired alongside that of Mike McCarthy's.
Schottenheimer, son of the late, legendary Marty Schottenheimer — a former mentor of McCarthy's and many other current and former coaches around the NFL — interviewed for the head coach vacancy in Dallas on Tuesday.
Having joined the Cowboys in 2022 as a coaching analyst, the Schottenheimer heir was promoted to the role of offensive coordinator in 2023, following the departure of Kellen Moore from that role, and that's where he's spent the last seasons in Dallas.
Interestingly enough, he and Moore are now both vying for the right to be named successor to McCarthy — Moore having recently completed a virtual interview for the position prior to helping to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to the NFC Championship Game.
It's Schottenheimer who boasts the much lengthier resume of coaching experience between the two though, despite having not called plays in Dallas during the McCarthy era.
His coaching career technically began immediately after becoming a national champion for the Florida Gators, taking on a role as an assistant for the (then) St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs in the late 1990s before a collegiate stretch that included a role as wide receivers coach for USC.
He'd then circle back to the NFL as quarterbacks coach for the Washington [Commanders] in 2001. All told, Schottenheimer has been in the coaching ranks in some capacity — be it positionally and/or as an offensive coordinator — for roughly 28 years.
It's that experience, along with his ability to relate to players, combined with familiarity in Dallas, that has the Cowboys keenly interested in hearing what his plan might be for turning the product around on the field.
