Dallas Cowboys announce finalized Brian Schottenheimer's coaching staff ahead of 2025 NFL season

The Dallas Cowboys have their new head coach in place in Brian Schottenheimer and now, his staff is finalized ahead of the 2025 NFL season. 

Schottenheimer impressed with his hires, building a team quite different from the ones we've seen in Dallas in recent memory. On defense, he allowed Matt Eberflus to build the staff his way, with the former Bears HC bringing several assistants with him. On offense, Schottenheimer's staff includes two coaches from the collegiate level and people who have run schemes different to what we've seen from him in the past. 

Below is Schottenheimer's finalized coaching staff announced by the Cowboys PR team on Friday afternoon.

Defense

• Coordinator: Matt Eberflus
• Defensive passing game coordinator and safeties: Andre Curtis
• Secondary and cornerbacks: David Overstreet II 
• Secondary and nickels: Darian Thompson (returns) 
• Linebackers: Dave Borgonzi
• Defensive line: Aaron Whitecotton
• Assistant defensive line: Bryan Bing
• Defensive assistant/Quality control: J.J. Clark
• Defensive assistant/Quality control: Tanzel Smart 

The shift to Eberflus will be felt in Dallas. While Zimmer and Quinn constantly wanted to be aggressive in the blitzing department while running simulated pressures and disguised coverages, Eberflus' defenses are much more static. 

Eberflus wants to rush the passer with four defenders, running a one-gap front and a much more traditional style of defense. The Cowboys will need to give him the horses up front for the defensive line to work like he envisions. On the defensive line, Whitecotton is someone Aaron Glenn fought hard to keep in New York with the Jets. 

Offense 

• Offensive coordinator: Klayton Adams 
• Running backs: Derrick Foster
• Offensive line: Conor Riley 
• Assistant offensive line: Ramon Chinyoung (returns)
• Wide receivers: Junior Adams
• Assistant wide receivers: Tiquan Underwood
• Tight ends: Lunda Wells
• Quarterbacks: Steve Shimko (returns on different role)
• Pass game specialist: Ken Dorsey
• Game management coordinator: Ryan Feder (returns)
• Dele Harding: QB Fellowship

Schottenheimer will call plays for the Cowboys in 2025. But this could look like a very different offense than the one he ran in Seattle in 2018-2020. That's because Klayton Adams comes from a Cardinals offense that ran a very varied and exotic run game, majoring in gap scheme runs like counter and sweeps. The hire is expected to spice up the Cowboys' rushing offense, adding more elements to it beyond just inside zone. 

The Cowboys getting Riley suggests the team is prioritizing OL development, as he's considered one of the top OL coaches in college, where he worked with the Kansas State while Cooper Beebe and Deuce Vaughn were there. 

Special teams

• Coordinator: Nick Sorensen
• Assistant: Carlos Polk

Sorensen's unique path bouncing between defense and special teams makes him intriguing. It won't be easy replacing John Fassel but his four years as special teams captain in Jacksonville during his playing days should serve him well. 

Strength and condititioning

• Chief of Staff: Tyler Boyles
• Strength and conditioning coordinator: Harold Nash (returns)
• Asst. Strength and Conditioning: Cedrick Smith (returns)
• Asst. Strength and Conditioning: Kendall Smith (returns)
• Asst. Strength and Conditioning and Sports Science: Braylon Tatum (returns)