Brian Schottenheimer, the legendary football coach, is launching an exciting new chapter in his career. He’s getting ready to go toe-to-toe with his long time friend and rival, Dan Quinn as they prepare their defenses for the battle between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. Cooler still, this odyssey follows a freak accident and a recent career turn that have both profoundly influenced Schottenheimer’s life.
In that same chat with Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Schottenheimer discovered some priceless counsel. Carroll encouraged him to remain open-minded during this transitional phase, especially as he stepped away from the pressures of being a playcaller. He told Schottenheimer that they needed to use this time wisely to focus on improving and reflecting.
Schottenheimer was barely back in coaching when Mike McCarthy got in touch with him. McCarthy had a spot for a new staff consultant after losing Ben McAdoo to the Carolina Panthers. McCarthy and Schottenheimer had a long friendship. Their friendship started when McCarthy was the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Schottenheimer was on his father’s coaching staff. McCarthy’s outreach gave Schottenheimer an opportunity to rekindle his passion for the game.
Schottenheimer’s return brought him back together with Dan Quinn, renewing their communication from Eric Mangini’s staff at the New York Jets. They last worked together from 2007-2008. Their partnership runs deep, and both have stayed closely connected over their years apart. As the two get ready to battle on the field, their growing professional relationship seems to be developing like clockwork.
Schottenheimer expressed how working as a consultant under Quinn for a year was instrumental in rebuilding his love for coaching. He said this period allowed him to reimagine ways to play defense. As a result, he got a wealth of knowledge that would make his offensive strategies the go-to paradigm.
“I would recommend it to any young coach if you have a chance, and you’re an offensive guy, go to defense for a year and vice versa,” – Schottenheimer
During their time together, Schottenheimer had done a crash course in defensive meetings with Quinn, soaking up information about defensive schemes and strategies. He unofficially assumed the role of the other team’s offensive coordinator every Monday. This provided him the opportunity to work alongside Quinn and develop a deep understanding of both the offensive and defensive sides of the game.
Their discussions extended beyond football strategy. Schottenheimer mentioned how their late-night conversations would give way to discussions around life, leadership, and developing the right culture for the team.
“He and I were usually two of the last ones to leave, and we’d talk a lot just about life, man. And we’d talk about leadership. We’d talk about chemistry. We’d talk about culture,” – Schottenheimer
Quinn praised how their relationship has developed over this time, and in this process. Their collaboration did not just sharpen their professional relationship, but it allowed them to grow personally.
“So we grew a lot in our relationship in that time,” – Quinn
Schottenheimer’s journey has had its fair share of challenges. The passing of his father, longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, before the season had definitely weighed on him. This loss caused him to entertain the idea of stepping away from coaching, in order to reconnect with his family.
Schottenheimer had made the decision to step away long before. Eventually, he decided to return to coaching, and now points a lot of his current success to the year he spent under Quinn. The wisdom he acquired throughout that time has restored his enthusiasm for the game and equipped him with fresh eyes on the process.
“I do remember him saying to me a lot, like Pete [Carroll], ‘Hey, take advantage of this time where you don’t really have the stress and the pressure of being the guy, the playcaller,’” – Schottenheimer
As Schottenheimer gets set to assume his new gig with the Cowboys, he looks back on his path. Then, he reflects on how these unique experiences have impacted him as a coach and person. His renewed passion for football is evident as he prepares to implement lessons learned from his past and present relationships.
“I think we both come from that [coaching] tree where that’s important to us. He’s an elite leader. He’s an incredible connector,” – Schottenheimer
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