FRISCO, Texas — Now that the head coach has been announced, Brian Schottenheimer becoming the tenth in the history of the franchise to stand that post, the Dallas Cowboys will have to move fairly swiftly to fill out the coaching staff around him as the NFL offseason calendar speeds along.
With the expiration of every coordinators' and assistant's contract as well, there were tough decisions that needed to be made by all involved, and it's thus far led to the loss of John "Bones" Fassel, Robert Prince and Al Harris, but the re-signing of Lunda Wells, the return of Matt Eberflus and the signing of Nick Sorensen and Klayton Adams — the latter three rounding out the three coordinator roles in Dallas under Schottenheimer.
There are more vacancies to be filled, however.
Bookmark this tracker as a means of keeping an eye on the daily ongoings/hirings following the Schottenheimer news, as it will be updated regularly until the staff is completely solidified.
[Last updated: 02/11/2024]
Feb. 11
Nearing completion of a task that effectively began on Jan. 14, when the contracts of Mike McCarthy and the entirety of the existing coaching staff met their expiration, the Cowboys are putting the finishing touches on the staff under Schottenheimer. Their latest likely acquisitions include Steve Shinko as quarterbacks coach, an assistant on the Cowboys' staff last season who also spent time with Schottenheimer in Seattle, as well as J.J. Clark, hailing from the University of Texas at El Paso, onboarding as a defensive assistant under Eberflus. The team is also also working to add former Bills and Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to the offensive staff in a currently unnamed capacity.
Feb. 10
Nick Sorensen parted ways with the 49ers to take on the role of special teams coordinator for the Cowboys almost immediately following the hiring of Schottenheimer, but the role of his assistant took a bit longer to resolve. The job of assistant special teams coordinator is all set now though, as the Cowboys prepare to welcome — or rather, to welcome back — Carlos Polk to the organization. Polk is a former fourth-round pick of the Chargers who went on to suit up for the Cowboys in 2008, and his coaching career includes a stint in 2019 wherein he was assistant special teams coordinator in Dallas. He's also served in that role for four other NFL clubs, most recently the Bears, one of several who spent time in Chicago under Eberflus.
Feb. 9
Fresh ideas and young minds are proving to be the name of the coaching game in Dallas going forward. Hot on the heels of adding Conor Riley from Kansas State, Schottenheimer has successfully ... recruited ... Junior Adams to the staff for 2025. Adams joins the Cowboys as their new wide receivers coach by way of the Oregon Ducks, the co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach for a program that was one of the most lethal in the country in 2024. Like Riley, this marks the first time Adams will head to the ranks of the NFL, and his position group is headlined by none other than record-setting wideout CeeDee Lamb — Tiquan Underwood assisting Adams with development at the position.
Feb. 7
Another day, another expected hiring for the busy-as-a-bee Cowboys' front office. This time, they're looking to fill their vacant seat at offensive line coach, and the person they're seemingly locked in on brings a lot of firepower to the war chest. Conor Riley, offensive coordinator of the Kansas State Wildcats and former offensive line coach of a multi-title winning North Dakota State program, is expected to sign on as o-line coach in Dallas — also reuniting him with Deuce Vaughn and Cooper Beebe in the process. Marrying what Riley brings to that of Klayton Adams, Derrick Foster and Brian Schottenheimer forms a clear picture as to how the Cowboys' offense will be run in 2025 and beyond.
Feb. 5
One day after inking Tiquan Underwood to the offensive side of the coaching chart, the team agreed to terms and signed Bryan Bing to the defensive side of the equation. Bing reunites with Eberflus after the two spent time together with the Chicago Bears, the latest to do so, and will take on the role of assistant defensive line coach beside Aaron Whitecotton. It's the same role Bing operated in for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024.
Feb. 4
As mentioned, the Cowboys waved goodbye to wide receivers coach Robert Prince, who signed on with the Dolphins. And while they work to fill his role, they've already seemingly come to a conclusion on who the assistant to that position will be. Tiquan Underwood, a former NFL receiver who spent the 2024 season as the assistant receivers coach for the New England Patriots, is expected to take over that same role in Dallas. His coaching experience began as a receivers coach at LaFayette and continued through Rutgers and Pittsburgh, where he was also offensive passing game coordinator, before joining the Patriots last season.
Feb. 3
One of the more discussed positions to be addressed in Dallas is that of running back, both roster-wise and in who'll be coaching the group going forward. To that end, the Cowboys interviewed several candidates, headlined by current University of Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice — also a former Cowboys' running back and offensive assistant. In direct competition with Choice is New Orleans Saints' running backs coach Derrick Foster and Oregon running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples, two of the three names being currently employed at the collegiate level showing Schottenheimer's open-mindedness toward bringing in fresh ideas and names. In the end, Foster took the lead and won the race, agreeing to join Schottenheimer and Adams.
Feb. 3
One of the more discussed positions to be addressed in Dallas is that of running back, both roster-wise and in who'll be coaching the group going forward. To that end, the Cowboys interviewed several candidates, headlined by current University of Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice — also a former Cowboys' running back and offensive assistant. In direct competition with Choice is New Orleans Saints' running backs coach Derrick Foster and Oregon running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples, two of the three names being currently employed at the collegiate level showing Schottenheimer's open-mindedness toward bringing in fresh ideas and names. In the end, Foster took the lead and won the race, agreeing to join Schottenheimer and Adams.
Feb. 1
The expectation is that the position made available by Harris' departure will be filled with the looming hiring of David Overstreet, stepping into the role of cornerbacks coach for the Cowboys. Like Curtis and Borzongi, Overstreet spent time with Eberflus when the latter was head coach of the Chicago Bears. This makes it very clear that Eberflus is re-entering the Cowboys' defense with a definitive plan for how he wants to coordinate it going forward, and he's bringing along those he knows can help him achieve that goal.
Jan. 31
As the position coaches began to take shape, the front office circled back to secure Klayton Adams to take the final available coordinator seat in Dallas, the two sides agreeing to terms on Friday on a deal that makes him the newest offensive coordinator in Dallas. The deal became official on Saturday, Feb. 1, and Adams can immediately impact the level of play from the Cowboys' offensive line and rushing attack; and that prognosis is based upon his runaway success as offensive line coach of the Arizona Cardinals that landed him a call from Schottenheimer and the Cowboys' brass this offseason.
Jan. 30
Having already been forced to wave goodbye to Fassel, Prince and Harris, the Cowboys were in desperate need of stopping the bleeding as it related to highly-sought after coaches whose contracts recently expired in Dallas. Their first big win in that category came by way of Lunda Wells, the longtime tight ends coach opting to remain in North Texas after weighing his many options, options that included a call from the Chicago Bears (where Al Harris was successfully wooed). Wells' decision not only provides stability within a rapidly changing offensive staff, but it keeps one of the best position coaches in the NFL in Dallas.
Jan. 29
On the same day in which they secured McClay for the next half-decade, the Cowboys added to Schottenheimer's staff by hiring Dave Borgonzi, Aaron Whitecotton and Andre Curtis as linebackers coach, defensive line coach and defensive passing game coordinator, respectively. Whitecotton, highly respected in New York, joins as a branch from the tree of Robert Saleh, who interviewed with the Cowboys for the then-vacant head coach position. Borgonzi returns to Dallas, formerly an offensive and defensive assistant in the early 2010s, and previously with Eberflus in Chicago — he and Curtis both having the latter in common regarding Eberflus.
Jan. 29
With the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator now under contract, and the Cowboys inking vice president of player personnel Will McClay to a five-year deal through the 2030 season, they turn their eyes to trying to lock down an offensive coordinator under Schottenheimer. That search is seemingly being led by interest in Klayton Adams, touted offensive line coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who underwent a formal interview with Cowboys' brass on Wednesday.
Jan. 28
The expectation has become reality for Eberflus and the Cowboys. A highly-touted defensive mind who once coordinated the defensive passing game for the Cowboys while also coaching up the team's linebackers corps has officially signed on to return to the organization as defensive coordinator under Brian Schottenheimer. His signing signifies the beginning of what should be a swift filling of roles within the coaching staff.
Jan. 27
Brian Schottenheimer made it clear he is “ready now” to take on the responsibilities of being a head coach, the first of his lengthy football career that has mostly seen him operate as a position coach and/or offensive coordinator. This will also see him calling plays for the first time with the Cowboys in addition to being the team's head coach, but the search continues for his offensive coordinator.
Jan. 27
Despite his name making the rounds during the Cowboys' coaching search, with a belief he'd potentially be added as a position coach in 2025, Jason Witten is not expected to join his former team in any capacity this coming season, per owner and general manager Jerry Jones — though Jones continues to praise the future Hall of Famer as a "great coach" and mentor. Witten recently celebrated a Texas state championship as a coach at the high school level.
Jan. 26
As the Cowboys work to nail down the staff beneath Schottenheimer, eyes pivot to the defensive side of the ball, and particularly with Harris no longer in the fold. At defensive coordinator, a role held by Mike Zimmer in 2024, the expectation is that Matt Eberflus — former Cowboys' linebackers coach and defense passing game coordinator — will reunite with the club to take over the role likely vacated by Zimmer, the latter reportedly opting to retire from the NFL.
Jan. 24
The search for the next Cowboys’ head coach concluded with the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer, the offensive coordinator in Dallas under Mike McCarthy since 2023. It ends a search that included several candidates, headlined by informal talks with both Deion Sanders and Schottenheimer's previous mentor, Pete Carroll; and along with former Cowboys' offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Jan. 24
Al Harris agreed to terms with the Chicago Bears to take on the role as their defensive passing game coordinator under incoming head coach Ben Johnson, parting ways with the Cowboys after a stellar stretch as defensive backs coach and, in 2024, assistant head coach to Mike McCarthy. It adds to the void that will need to be filled this offseason, and the sooner the better, with the head coach having been chosen and both the East-West Shrine Bown and Reese's Senior Bowl both taking place in a few days.
