Brian Schottenheimer had secret agreement with Jones family before becoming Cowboys' head coach

In early 2025, Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones and team executive vice president Stephen Jones received some criticism after they promoted Brian Schottenheimer from the role of offensive coordinator to head coach. 

During a recent appearance on "The Twins Take Podcast," Schottenheimer revealed that he had an "agreement" with the Jones family to remain with the Cowboys if somebody else ultimately won the head-coaching job. 

Brian Schottenheimer was going to stay with Cowboys in 2025 "no matter what"

"So, what we did is while they were going through the process -- 'cause there's a process, right? I wasn't sure, and there was a number of other teams -- saying this very humbly -- that were courting me and trying to say, 'Hey, we want you to come be our coordinator,'" Schottenheimer explained, per Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "And so, you know, after just talking it over with Stephen and Jerry, like, OK, while we figure this out and you guys go through the interview process, which there's a thorough interview process you have to go through. We had made an agreement that I would stay here no matter what."

Schottenheimer had never served as a head coach at any significant level before being hired by the Cowboys. While some stories linked the Cowboys with big names such as then-Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and legendary figure Bill Belichick after Dallas officially parted ways with Mike McCarthy, there was never any indication that the Jones family came close to making a major splash that winter. 

It's believed the Jones family wanted to retain Schottenheimer because Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott became a 2023 Most Valuable Player finalist while working with Schottenheimer and reportedly wanted "continuity." Under Schottenheimer, the Cowboys finished last season with a record of 7-9-1.

Brian Schottenheimer "didn't want to leave" Cowboys after spending two seasons as Dallas' offensive coordinator

"I didn't want to leave," Schottenheimer added. "... I really wanted to be the head coach and put our fingerprint, our blueprint on it. And that's what God had planned."

Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears and Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars guided their teams to playoff appearances this past winter as first-year head coaches. Perhaps Jerry and Stephen Jones will be left wondering what could have been for the Cowboys if Dallas fails to at least participate in a postseason game this coming January.