The Dallas Cowboys endured a challenging NFL season, falling short of the playoffs and leaving fans questioning owner Jerry Jonesâ decisions throughout the year. Adding fuel to the conversation, former Cowboys legend Michael Irvin has weighed in with a candid critique of Jonesâ latest move regarding the head coaching position.
Following Mike McCarthyâs departure, Jones embarked on a search for a new head coach. Despite a pool of strong candidates, including former players and coaches with ties to the Cowboys, Jones ultimately decided on Brian Schottenheimer to lead the team into the next NFL season.
As the announcement sparked heated debates on social media, Irvin didnât hold back when asked about Schottenheimerâs appointment, tying his comments to Sundayâs NFC Championship Game. âWe have two NFC East teams in the NFC Championship playing on Sunday: the Commanders and the Eagles. Theyâre our enemies on all fronts, and theyâre in a position we havenât been in for 30 f*** years,â Irvin said, emphasizing the Cowboysâ long-standing struggles.
Irvin further elaborated on his concerns in a direct message to Jones. âI wrote a letter to Jerry to make my point, and while I delivered it in a bulls*** way, I wasnât lying,â Irvin explained. âYou bring in someone already inside the organization as head coach, and you lose intangibles that are hard to get back. Thatâs what worries me.â
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
Irvin criticizes Schottenheimerâs hiring as Cowboysâ head coach
Irvin didnât just express frustration over the Cowboysâ struggles over the past 30 years; he also took aim at Jerry Jonesâ decision-making. âMy issue is that we lost an opportunity. I donât know what could have happened with Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys, but Jerry is a true businessman. And this opportunityâIâm shocked,â Irvin said.
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Irvin went on to elaborate: âI was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the head coach, and I still stand by that push. I canât believe Jonesâ decision.â Reports had initially pegged Sanders as the frontrunner for the position, but Jones surprised everyone by selecting Schottenheimer instead.
When Irvin referred to a âmissed opportunity,â he was alluding to Sandersâ success in college football and the energy he could have brought to the franchise. Not only was Sanders thriving in his current role, but he had also expressed interest in coaching the Cowboys. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Schottenheimer was announced as the hire.
Schottenheimerâs track record with the Cowboys
After two years on McCarthyâs coaching staff, Schottenheimer now takes on the challenge of leading the Cowboys as head coach next season. While he is familiar with the teamâs offensive strategy, having served as an offensive coordinator, fans are concerned this decision signals a continuation of McCarthyâs underwhelming tenure.
Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys in 2022 as a coaching analyst, later stepping into the offensive coordinator role. However, his time in this position saw mixed results. Over the past two seasons, the team averaged just 20.6 points per game, ranking 21st in offensive production league-wide. This performance has left many questioning whether he is the right choice to take the franchise forward.
