Dallas Cowboys Coach Asking for Prayers After Troubling Personal News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Sep 15, 2025 7:30 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer got off the mark on Sunday as he led his team to a thrilling 40-37 overtime victory against the New York Giants. It was Dallas’ home opener at AT&T Stadium and Schottenheimer marked the occasion by getting his first win as a head coach.

It did not take long for the 51-year-old to register his first victory after taking over the helm for the Cowboys during the offseason. After serving as the team’s offensive coordinator over the past couple of seasons, Schottenheimer was promoted to head coach in January following the departure of Mike McCarthy.

Schottenheimer went 0-1 in Dallas’ season opener as the defending champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, secured a 24-20 win in their Week 1 clash. Schottenheimer, however, was able to log his first win in Week 2, and the Cowboys are optimistic that this will be the first of many this season.

Unfortunately for Schottenheimer, he has been dealing with a troubling personal matter of late. Speaking to the press on Monday, the Cowboys coach asked for prayers for his 82-year-old mother, who is set to undergo surgery on Friday after falling and breaking her arm. The incident caused her to miss her son’s first NFL win as a head coach.

While the medical concern does not seem to be critically serious, the fact that Pat Schottenheimer is already 82 puts her in a delicate situation as she goes under the knife.

Brian Schottenheimer is the son of former NFL star linebacker and legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer, who passed away in 2021. He is also the brother of Kurt Schottenheimer, who has had coaching stints with several teams in the league, including the Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers, to name a few.

Pat Schottenheimer will be out of surgery when her son takes the field on Sunday in a road matchup against the Chicago Bears. The hope is that she will be strong enough to watch her son get another win, albeit remotely.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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