It’s a new era for the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy is no longer the head coach after five seasons. Three consecutive playoff appearances sandwiched in between two losing seasons without QB Dak Prescott for most of the season wasn’t enough to bring him back.
The Dallas Cowboys’ extensive and grueling head coach search *insert eye roll here* ended with OC Brian Schottenheimer being the choice to lead this team to the promised land with a four-year contract.
Hiring Schottenheimer is being widely viewed as a lame-duck hire; another puppet for Jerry and Stephen Jones to manipulate on the sidelines and in the locker room. However, it appears that Schotty has been given a little more freedom than we expected.
Don’t be fooled. Jerry’s fingerprints are still sprinkled into this staff, and it started with the hire of new DC Matt Eberflus. The former Bears head coach was the first hire after Schottenheimer, and it appeared to be another comfort hire for Jones.
On the contrary, Schottenheimer has been given the keys to the offense, and the offensive staff as well. It’s shaping up nicely, and the coaches hired give us hope for change. Let’s take a look at the full staff.
Offense
How the Cowboys’ offensive coaching staff is turning out has brought a spark to Cowboys Nation on social media. Once distraught at the hiring of the head coach, the staff under him is taking shape and fans are softening their stances.
Head coach and play-caller: Brian Schottenheimer
Offensive Coordinator: Klayton Adams
Offensive Line: Conor Riley
Assistant Offensive Line: Ramon Chinyoung Jr.
Tight Ends: Lunda Wells
Wide Receivers: Junior Adams
Asst. Wide Receivers: Tiquan Underwood
Running Backs: Derrick Foster
Quarterbacks: Steve Shimko
Pass Game Specialist: Ken Dorsey
Schottenheimer’s staff is an interesting one because all the signs point to the Cowboys getting back to “running the damn ball”.
New OC Klayton Adams was the offensive line coach in Arizona, and helped veteran James Conner get back to being one of the best running backs in the league.
Sure, he had the benefit of a running quarterback like Kyler Murray, but his trap/counter schemes have given defenses fits. I’m very excited to see what he and OL Coach Conor Riley can do with the running game.
Lunda Wells was retained as tight ends coach, and his previous experience as an offensive line coach will have the tight ends ready to run block.
Defense
DC Matt Eberflus appears to have been given the freedom to assemble his defensive staff, and he has done a fine job.
Defensive Coordinator: Matt Eberflus
Defensive Line: Aaron Whitecotton
Asst. Defensive Line: Brian Bing
Linebackers: Dave Borgonzi
Asst. Linebackers: JJ Clark
Passing Game Coordinator: Andre Curtis
Cornerbacks: David Overstreet
Secondary/Nickelbacks: Darian Thompson
Eberflus hand-picked his staff carefully, bringing in talent from all over the NFL.
New DL Coach Aaron Whitecotton and his assistant Brian Bing are the next coaches to try and get the best out of EDGE Micah Parsons, who has hit double-digit sacks each season since being drafted in 2021.
Passing Game Coordinator Andre Curtis followed Eberflus from Chicago, and has overseen the success of players like Jaylon Johnson, Jaquan Brisker, and Eddie Jackson.
He will have some fun with Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Caelen Carson.
Special Teams
Jon “Bones” Fassel is no longer in the building, having signed in the same capacity with the Tennessee Titans. The Cowboys have brought in a staff they hope can replicate the same success.
Special Teams Coordinator: Nick Sorensen
Asst. Special Teams: Carlos Polk
Strength & Conditioning
Despite a year filled with injuries, Harold Nash and his staff have been retained.
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator: Harold Nash
Assistant: Cedrick Smith
Assistant: Kendall Smith
Assistant and Sports Science: Braylon Tatum
Specialty Coaches
Quarterbacks/Minority Fellowship: Dele Harding
Defensive Asst./Quality Control: Tanzel Smart
Game Management: Ryan Feder
Chief of Staff: Tyler Boyles