Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated on Monday that hiring Brian Schottenheimer as the new head coach is the biggest risk he has ever taken in his career. In the official presentation of the new coach, Jones remarked, "If you think I can’t step out of my comfort zone, you’re very wrong. Hiring Schottenheimer is the biggest risk I could take. He has no experience as a head coach."

Criticism Over Schottenheimer’s Lack of Experience

Schottenheimer’s appointment, a 51-year-old coach with no prior experience as a head coach, has received criticism from both the media and Cowboys fans. Throughout his career, Schottenheimer has served as an assistant coach for nine different teams, but he has never received a concrete offer to lead a franchise.

Schottenheimer is the son of legendary Marty Schottenheimer, who mentored Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys’ previous head coach. This family legacy is one of the reasons Jones highlighted when justifying his decision to hire Schottenheimer as the tenth head coach in the franchise’s history, founded in 1960 by Coach Tom Landry.

Jerry Jones Defends His Business Audacity

At 82 years old, Jones didn’t hesitate to defend his decision, emphasizing that he has taken risks throughout his career, such as when he bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for less than $150 million and turned them into the world’s most valuable sports franchise, now worth over $10 billion. “I’ve read that I’m not a risk-taker. I’ve taken more risks in the last five years than I did in the rest of my life combined. I’ll say this: getting involved with the Dallas Cowboys was a huge risk. Huge. And here we are,” he pointed out.

Brian Schottenheimer: Ready for the Challenge

During his turn at the press conference, Schottenheimer stated that, although he had been approached by other teams for head coach positions in the past, he didn’t feel ready to take that step. However, he now feels prepared to continue the Cowboys’ legacy: “I had some opportunities when I was younger, but I didn’t feel ready. Now, I’m ready to continue with the legacy and tradition of this team; I feel honored and privileged to be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys,” he said.

Until last season, Schottenheimer served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator and has had experience with teams like the Jaguars, Seahawks, Colts, Rams, Jets, Chargers, Washington, and Chiefs. In the 2025 NFL season, Schottenheimer will be tasked with breaking a 30-year drought without the Cowboys reaching the NFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl.