NEW ORLEANS – The Cowboys are continuing to round out their coaching staff, with all three coordinators in the boat for Brian Schottenheimer's inaugural staff and position coaching positions being filled.
It may be Schottenheimer's first time building a staff, but Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones knows he was built to do this.
"Very pleased with not only selecting who we'd like to have, but they're becoming a part of the staff," Jones said. "I can't tell you what a good job Brian is doing. He's got a doctorate degree in coaching staffs, spent a lot of time thinking about it."
"His first time literally ever to be able to orchestrate the process as well as be involved as the number-one decision-maker on the staff. He's doing a great job, without exaggerating."
With a new head coach and three new coordinators, Jones presented something to consider about Schottenheimer's staff:
"A nice exercise for you, do the average age of our coaching staff compared to the average age last year. That'd be an interesting number." Jones said.
Well, here's the answer: When looking at head coach and all three coordinators only, the 2024 Cowboys staff led by Mike McCarthy averaged 57.7 years of age. Schottenheimer's staff is nearly a decade younger with an average of 48 years of age, with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams being the youngest of the four at 41 years old.
Will youth make a difference? That's to be determined, but once the staff is fully assembled, the next step for Schottenheimer and the front office will be to get Dallas' roster ready for the 2025 season. Amongst a long list of the Cowboys' own free agents and potential extensions, Jones hinted at his desire to get Micah Parsons signed long-term.
"Well, we spent the most money of anybody in the NFL on a player last year," Jones said, referring to Dak Prescott. "If we can do that again, that'd be pretty good."
Parsons' extension would only be the beginning of decisions that Jones and the front office would have to make, and it seems like the Cowboys are planning to stick to a similar plan in terms of their approach to the free agency market as they have in years past.
"I think you ought to look at free agency, not so much the criticism we got last year, but look at in years past and how we've done it will probably be more in line." Jones said.
Jones made the franchise's approach very clear: Schottenheimer's hire wasn't one that would set the team up for success down the line, it was one he believes is best suited to win with the current core of star players.
"We're not building for the future here. Brian's hiring was not a future get a coach and get him ready to play. That's not what that was. This is a hit the ground running [hire]," Jones said. This gave us the best way to get our players that we've got right now and look at the future to get the benefit of a new coach and the enthusiasm that goes with it."
