FRISCO, Texas — As Brian Schottenheimer sat down next to Jerry and Stephen Jones for his introductory press conference as the 10th head coach of the Dallas Cowboys surrounded by family and friends, there was one person that couldn't be there for his big moment.
"My father was a legendary coach, a great man, but he was an incredible father," Schottenheimer said. "And he's impacted me more than anyone in this profession. I know he's looking down on me, I know he's proud."
One week after Brian accepted the passing game coordinator by the Jacksonville Jaguars in February of 2021, Marty Schottenheimer passed away at the age of 77. He left behind one of the best NFL head coaching legacies ever, with the eighth most wins as a head coach in NFL history.
Even though Marty couldn't be in Frisco to watch his son accept his first NFL head coaching job, Brian knows exactly what his message would be.
"He'd say to me, 'Brian, the easy part is over. It's time to get to work.'" Schottenheimer said.
Marty and Brian are the ninth father-son duo in history to become NFL head coaches. The pair coached together for six seasons. Brian was an assistant on his father's staff with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1998, and his quarterbacks coach for Washington in 2001 and San Diego Chargers from 2002-05.
Football is the family business, and Schottenheimer has worked his way up the NFL ladders to keep his family's legacy alive thanks to the lessons he learned from his late father.
"I was taught at a young age by my father that you can outwork people in this business. You don't belong in this organization if you don't value relationships." Schottenheimer said.
"This business has never been about Xs and Os. It's about people, and when I thought about it, I can't imagine sitting up here with a better group of people, a better family to do this with. So, I thank you guys for that opportunity"
In the beginning, when colleagues around the league asked Marty if Brian would be getting into coaching, he would tell them that he was trying to talk him out of it. Both Marty and his wife Pat didn't want Brian to get into it. But Marty's close friend and former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher put Brian's ambition to coach into perspective for his father.
"He said 'Marty, you're missing the boat.' He said, 'the fact that Brian got into coaching is a compliment to you because you made it fun for him. He respects you and he's following in your footsteps.'"
Regardless of what his parents wanted or didn't want him to do, Brian was going to get into coaching. During his time as a quarterback at the University of Florida, Schottenheimer put a notecard in his wallet with the written goal of becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history etched on it. He didn't quite accomplish the age aspect of that goal, but he's living the dream of leading an NFL franchise thanks to his father's inspiration.
"I thought for a while it might not happen, but it's been a lifelong dream," Schottenheimer said. "I mean, how do you wake up every day in a household with your mentor, your best friend, see the sacrifice and the work ethic that he does?"
Now, like Brian says his father would've told him, it's time to get to work. The goal is simple: To do what Marty was never able to accomplish in his illustrious career, and win a Super Bowl.
"When he called his mother…" Jerry Jones said, "One of the things he said to his Mama was 'Mama, I'm gonna get a chance to get what Daddy didn't get: a Super Bowl, if it kills me. And the first one will be for him.'"
