If you are a Dallas sports fan, 2025 hasn’t exactly been your cup of tea, has it?
The Dallas Cowboys are in disarray, more on this later, and now probably the best player on the Dallas Mavericks just got traded to the Lakers.
As an FYI, I was a long-time Lakers fan up until they signed LeBron James and I put my fandom on pause until he’s gone. The same thing happens if Tom Brady had landed in Dallas too.
So, I feel your pain today.
The good news is there’s still half a season left to see if this turns out to be good for the Mavericks.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom for the Dallas faithful. The Mavericks played for the NBA Championship two seasons back.
In fact, since the last time the Cowboys played in and/or won a title, the Mavericks have been in three Finals and won it all back in 2011.
The Texas Rangers had an off-year last year, but won the World Series back in 2023. Like the Mavericks, they too have been in three championship series since the Cowboys last title game appearance.
Then there’s the Dallas Stars.
They won the Stanley Cup back in 1999 and have been in two Finals since winning it all that season. They’ve also been in three other conference finals in addition to the two they won.
In other words, cheer up.
At least the other three teams are in much better shape than the Cowboys.
Sorry about that, Cowboys fans.
Is There Hope In 2025?
The pain inflicted upon Dallas sports fans by the Cowboys still hits hardest. If the Cowboys don’t advance past the divisional round in 2025, there will then be 30 years of misery.
That’s a bitter pill to swallow.
The initial responses to the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as the 10th head coach were not welcoming, to be it lightly.
An assistant coach for over 25 years who had never been given a shot at the top job? That doesn’t inspire confidence.
Especially when the coach’s last name seemed to be his biggest selling point.
But the staff Schottenheimer is putting together is giving the naysayers some pause.
Matt Eberflus takes over as the new defensive coordinator. Klayton Adams is the new offensive coordinator and Nick Sorenson will head up the special teams.
These should be three solid assistants.
And where Schottenheimer is lacking in head coaching experience, he can draw on Eberflus’ experience leading the Bears in that role for two-plus seasons.
Yes, there’s a little glimmer of light ahead of us in this dark tunnel we call Cowboys fandom.
But is it the way to the promised land, or is that yet another Jerry Jones runaway train barreling down upon us? We might have a better idea by the end of April.
Are The Right Changes Coming?
With free agency starting next month, and the draft at the end of April, what moves Jerry and Stephen Jones make will give us a hint at what is to come.
Judging by the coaching hires, I personally am hoping that the organizational philosophy is transforming.
By now they must realize their starting quarterback is no Patrick Mahomes. Prescott is at his best when he mimics Joe Flacco circa 2012.
As a reminder, Flacco was the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens that year when they won the Super Bowl.
The Ravens pounded the ball with Ray Rice, terrorized the opponent’s offense with their defense, and Flacco played smart when passing the ball.
Both Schottenheimer and Adams are run-oriented coaches. Hopefully, that is the philosophy they instill in the Cowboys’ offense in 2025.
If Eberflus can sort out how to shore up the Cowboys’ run defense, then 2025 could be a surprisingly good season.
Which means if we see the free agency and draft focus on top running backs, linemen on both sides of the ball, and another wide receiver to help free up CeeDee Lamb, we’ll know the running game is a priority.
If Jones Inc. wastes time, money, and picks, on defensive backs, tight ends, and reach picks and bargain-basement free agents…
Then that light heading our way is going to hurt. A lot.