Inside Cowboys Coach's Inspirational Speech To Rookies

The NFL offseason is a grueling grind, and that is even more apparent for rookies and undrafted rookies, but Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer wants to make things easier for his 2025 class.

Yes, the Cowboys drafted well, with Tyler Booker, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Shavon Revel Jr. the pick of the bunch, but there are also nine undrafted rookie free agents who harbour the same goal as those who were drafted—to make the team.

But as natural as it is to look at where you are on the depth chart and the long list of players who are in front of you, Schottenheimer wants every player to focus on getting better every day, not worrying about where you are on the depth chart.

“What's the mantra? Compete every day," Schottenheimer said. "Whether you're Tyler Neville, Zion Childress, Alijah Clark, don't get caught up on the depth chart. Get caught up on, did you win today? Did you have a competitive day? Were you the best version of yourself today? 

"If you did that and you continue to stack days, then guess what's going to happen? You're going to get noticed by your position coach, then by your coordinator. Then by myself and Will McClay. Most importantly, when you're doing that consistently, who you going to get noticed by? Your teammates, and then guess what? That's when you know you've broken through.”

That is an admirable way for rookies to approach things.

Dallas' rookie minicamp is underway at The Star, and this is their first chance to impress the coaching staff with how they conduct themselves both on and off the field.

It can be a long grind, especially for undrafted rookies, but Schottenheimer wants to make it clear that whether you are a first-round pick or an undrafted rookie, everyone is on a level playing field, and it is up to the individual player to focus, and the rest will take care of itself.

Do Booker or Ravel Jr. have an "easier" path? Sure, but that doesn't mean those undrafted players throw in the towel. Schottenheimer wants them to fight every day to be the best version of themselves and improve.

If they do that, then the depth chart, in due time, will take care of itself.