The Dallas Cowboys’ revamped coaching staff is starting to take shape with Brian Schottenheimer introduced as the team’s new head coach Monday, while reports surfaced that former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is set to become his defensive coordinator.
Schottenheimer was promoted by owner Jerry Jones from his role as an assistant under former head coach Mike McCarthy. Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator in Dallas the past two seasons.
Schottenheimer is the third Dallas assistant to be promoted to head coach under Jones, joining Dave Campo and Jason Garrett.
“From a football family in the Schottenheimers to the Joneses, thank you guys for this incredible, incredible opportunity,” Schottenheimer said. “And I look forward to working closely with the entire family to continue the legacy and the tradition of this football team.”
A number of Cowboys players were in attendance at the introductory press conference, including quarterback Dak Presscott.
“We’re looking for world-class competitors, guys who want to compete every day to be the best versions of themselves,” Schottenheimer said. “We are looking for people with a relentless work ethic. I was taught at an early age by my father (former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer) that you can outwork people in this business.”
The Cowboys have favored offensive coaches under Jones, who hired McCarthy in 2020 to replace Garrett. Garrett was head coach in Dallas from 2010-19. He took over for Wade Phillips, who spent most of 3 1/2 seasons as coach after following Bill Parcells.
Schottenheimer has been an NFL assistant for more than 25 years. He did not hold play-calling responsibilities with the Cowboys under McCarthy.
“To do what we need to do will take incredible amounts of hard work but we’re going to do it together,” Schottenheimer said. “Our team, the Dallas Cowboys, will be driven by a competitive spirit and a love for one another.”
In five seasons, McCarthy led the Cowboys to three 12-5 campaigns. The team went 6-10 in his first season in 2020 then went 7-10 last season when Prescott missed the final nine games with a hamstring injury.
Now Jones will turn the team over to Schottenheimer, who has no head coaching experience, even though he has been an NFL assistant as far back as 1997 and has worked on the staffs of nine different organizations, including the St. Louis Rams twice.
“Without this being about me in any way, if you don’t think I can operate outside my comfort zone, you are so wrong,” Jones said. “(Hiring Schottenheimer) is as big a risk as you can take. No head coaching experience.”
Eberflus, 54, was fired by the Chicago Bears after serving as their head coach the past three seasons and compiling a 14-32 record. He had served as the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator the previous four seasons.
In four seasons on the staff of the Cowboys from 2011-17, Eberflus served as linebackers coach and added passing-game coordinator duties in 2016.