Brian Schottenheimer has spent the offseason rebuilding relationships across the Dallas roster, hosting dinners with offense, defense and special teams groups and meeting roughly 40 players to learn who they are beyond the field. The gatherings are part of an effort to foster cohesion among players who otherwise spend most of their time with position or unit teammates.
Schottenheimer is entering his second season as the Cowboys’ head coach after a 7-9-1 debut. That first year included back-to-back wins over the previous season’s Super Bowl participants, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, as well as a defense that finished last in the league in points allowed and prompted a personnel overhaul.
The 2025 season also included the team’s response to the death of Marshawn Kneeland. Despite the challenges, Schottenheimer drew praise from the front office, the personnel department, assistant coaches and players during his first year, and he said he feels more comfortable heading into Year 2. He described doing an after-action review of his own work and making adjustments.
Schottenheimer acknowledged he spent much of last year focused on the offense, working with first-time coordinator Klayton Adams and several coaches learning his offensive approach. He said he wished he had taken a more direct role with the defense earlier. This spring he has devoted more time to defensive meetings with new coordinator Christian Parker and has been more attentive to special teams, including punt coverage drills.
Players have noticed a change in his demeanor. Tight end Jake Ferguson said Schottenheimer “feels more dangerous” and that the coach appears to be “in his bag,” while others such as quarterback Dak Prescott and guard Tyler Smith benefit from prior familiarity; Schottenheimer had been the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy from 2023-24.
