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Cowboys Are Closing In On 'Stunning' Head Coaching Hire

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 11:27 AM ET

There have been some pretty wild head coaching searches by NFL teams in recent memory but we can scarcely recall one as bizarre as the one the Dallas Cowboys are engaged in right now.

From waiting a full week after the end of the season to announce the departure of Mike McCarthy, to openly courting Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, to bringing in a number of absolute head-scratching candidates for interviews, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made this coaching search one we won't soon forget.

Nevertheless, that coaching search appears to be nearing the end.

According to Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr., the Cowboys are ready to "cross the finish line" towards promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to full head coach. Hill said the announcement could come either today or tomorrow.

"Look for the Cowboys to cross the finish line on hiring Brian Schottenheimer no later than Friday, possibly today," Hill wrote on X.

Look for the Cowboys to cross the finish line on hiring Brian Schottenheimer no later than Friday, possibly today
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) January 23, 2025

Schottenheimer is a deeply unpopular candidate to the say the least, but he isn't lacking for experience. The son of legendary NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian has been working in the NFL since his mid-20s and has had coaching jobs in the NFL or college ranks every year since 1997.

His big break came as the quarterbacks coach of the San Diego Chargers under his father from 2002 to 2005. He parlayed the success he had with Drew Brees into the offensive coordinator position with the New York Jets, where he helped lead the likes of Chad Pennington and Mark Sanchez to the playoffs under Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan.

But Schottenheimer was ultimately fired from the position in 2011 and has largely spent the last decade-plus bouncing around the league in various offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coaching jobs, never holding a single job down for more than three years and never coming close to getting a serious offer as a head coach.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer reacts during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)Sam Hodde/Getty Images

His lack of success through nearly 30 years of coaching has just about every Cowboys fan in an uproar over his potential hire.

Like it or hate it though, it appears that the Cowboys have decided to give Schottenheimer his chance.

With the roster the team has, it's certainly possible that he could surprise us all and give the Cowboys a great year.

But it seems far more likely that Schottenheimer becomes the next David Culley than the next Andy Reid.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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