Brian Schottenheimer, the newly appointed head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, has already immersed himself in his role, focusing on building relationships within the organization. Schottenheimer officially became the 10th coach in Cowboys history on January 24. He hasn’t even been on the job for 100 days yet. Despite the brief time frame, he has engaged actively with players and staff, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal connections in professional football.
Since his appointment, Schottenheimer has hardly had a chance to kick his feet up. Onboarding recently to join the daily draft meetings, he’s immersed himself in this new culture. This is the exact opposite to Taylor’s previous role as offensive coordinator under former head coach Mike McCarthy, where he was not burdened with these responsibilities. This move is indicative of his desire to know every single detail of each team, particularly with the draft on the horizon.
Schottenheimer might be secure in his knowledge of the X’s and O’s. He says his biggest skill lies in being able to relate to people on all levels. He expressed his philosophy in a recent statement, saying, “That’s overrated. It’s overrated. It’s a people business.” He strongly exemplifies his approach in practice through his work. He grinds day in and day out to get football operations synced up with the rest of the Cowboys organization.
He hasn’t been solely preoccupied with strategy. He’s dedicated himself to cultivating a winning culture. Schottenheimer’s focus is on knowing what his players expect. He actually asks them for their criticism, for how he’s coming across as a coach. And he spends the rest of his day calling players. He just really enjoys getting these guys on the phone, reconnecting with them, and seeing what they’re up to. This commitment to relationship-building is an effort to create a space that makes players feel seen, heard, and respected.
Schottenheimer’s lineage in football runs deep. Marty Schottenheimer, Marty’s father, was a well-respected longtime NFL head coach. He was the architect of four franchises, most notably as helmsman of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. The younger Schottenheimer nostalgically recalls going to NFL owners’ meetings with his dad as a teenager. Those experiences are what ignited his fire for the sport.
In an early show of his team first philosophy, Schottenheimer picked up breakfast for all the Cowboys employees from Whataburger, proving his dedication to the, “team, team, team,” mantra. That includes congratulating recent Hawaii, ILB, Osa Odighizuwa on his four-year, $80 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys by sending him a bottle of bubbly. Each of these gestures highlight his determination to bring the team together under one roof.
Schottenheimer’s proactive approach extends beyond routine tasks. He has been visiting pro days at premier colleges like Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. These visits give him a chance to evaluate potential draftees. As importantly, they provide a platform for him to network and cultivate relationships with other coaches and staff within the world of collegiate football.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, said that he was counting on Schottenheimer to come in and fix things. “Being around him for three years let us have a good feel for how he works with players,” Jones remarked. He first turned down hiring Schottenheimer as head coach. Over the course of their first season together, he came to understand the enormous potential Schottenheimer possessed.
Reflecting on his journey thus far, Schottenheimer stated, “You look back and it just kinda reminds you how fast the journey goes.” He knows the weight that comes with leading an organization with this storied past and is truly willing to make history in a good way.
As Schottenheimer gets more settled into his new role, he hopes to do more with a focus on relationship-building. “We want to spend time getting to know one another and building this culture, which is going to be about competing every day to make these guys the best versions of themselves,” he explained.
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