Brian Schottenheimer just proved he's changing how things are done in the Dallas Cowboys only three months into head coaching job

Only a three months into his head coaching tenure with the Dallas Cowboys, Brian Schottenheimer has proved he's changing how things are done. 

For years, the Cowboys have bet on players with character concerns as long as they offered value in the NFL Draft and even free agency. Kelvin Joseph, Randy Gregory, Josh Ball, Sam Williams, Trysten Hill, are examples that come to mind. Heck, Dallas even signed Greg Hardy in 2015, well after the defender was found guilty of assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend. That's already changing. 

Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Mike Fisher reported Schottenheimer was "pounding the table" for high-character players as part of his efforts to build a strong culture at The Star. 

"The one thing you didn’t mention was the person," the Cowboys head coach told reporters days before the Draft. "We’re looking for those world‑class competitors—the guys who come in, work hard, and are passionate about what they do. It really is a puzzle you’re trying to fit together, and to me, traits are just one piece of that puzzle."

Based on the nine picks the team made throughout seven rounds, it certainly appears he got exactly what he wanted from the front office. Consider this about the following draft picks and notice the clear trend:

• OG Tyler Booker: Alabama captain and considered the guy who got the team back on track after embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt.
• EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku: Two-year team captain at Boston College.
• CB Shavon Revel Jr.: Has fought plenty of adversity in his life and stuck with East Carolina despite six-figure NIL offers because it was the program that first believed in him.
• RB Jaydon Blue: Per Nick Harris, during COVID, Blue organized workouts during his high school recruitment involving multiple schools and dozens of people. "He led the group chat, he got the media (me) there, and he led the workouts," posted Harris on X.
• LB Shemar James: Captain for the Florida. Said Gators head coach Billy Napier: "Brings a lot of positive energy to the building, always got a smile on his face, knows everybody’s name, just a guy you enjoy coaching and being around."

As Schottennheimer said on Saturday once the Draft ended, it isn't about being a captain or not. It's about having leadership. It may only be a part of the equation—they have to play good football too—but the Cowboys got the "right kind of guys" for the Schottenheimer era. 

He will need more than that to be remembered as a good coach and to build a legacy. But the shake up is worth taking notice of.