Brian Schottenheimer is tasked with bringing success back to the Dallas Cowboys. However, he has already hit his first roadblock, as team owner Jerry Jones has given him specific instructions on how to run the club this year.
The Cowboys have struggled in recent years to establish themselves as a top-tier franchise. Despite being one of the most valuable sports teams in the world, their on-field success hasn’t matched their financial dominance.
It’s been 30 years since the Cowboys last reached the NFC Championship game, marking a significant drought for the iconic franchise. Now, Jerry Jones has appointed Brian Schottenheimer as head coach to turn things around—a decision that has left many fans surprised.
Jerry Jones lays out expectations for Brian Schottenheimer
Cowboys fans are desperate for their team to find success in the near future. While the franchise has made several playoff appearances recently, they haven’t advanced to the NFC Championship game since 1996.
Jerry Jones, who doubles as the team’s owner and general manager, has been heavily criticized for his decisions regarding the organization. His choice to promote Brian Schottenheimer, the team’s former offensive coordinator, to head coach for the 2025 NFL season is no exception.
Big names like Pete Carroll and Deion Sanders were rumored as potential targets for the Cowboys’ head coaching position. However, Jones opted to stay in-house by promoting Schottenheimer—a move that could work in the owner’s favor.
Jones, known for his hands-on approach with the Cowboys, has already outlined his expectations for Schottenheimer. Jones wants the team to focus more on the running game in the upcoming season, and he has instructed the HC to do so.
“We want to be able to run the ball,” Jones said, via the team’s website. “Everybody says that we want to run the ball and we want to stop the run, and certainly that’s what we want to do. That’s what great championship football teams do, and I know coach Schottenheimer wants to do that. I think it’s real important that we find in this hire a coach that’s going to be outstanding in the run game area.”
Will the Cowboys pursue a new running back in 2025?
While Jerry Jones emphasizes the importance of running the ball, his actions have painted a different picture. The owner has been hesitant to commit large contracts to running backs but appears to have realized the value of a strong rushing attack.
This realization may have been reinforced during the 2025 NFL playoffs. The Eagles, a fierce NFC East rival, scored seven rushing touchdowns against the Commanders—one more than the Cowboys managed during the entire season.