After a two-man HC search in 2020, the Cowboys again veered off the usual search playbook by conducting a four-interview operation to replace Mike McCarthy. Their choice — Brian Schottenheimer — had not been part of a head coaching interview in over a decade, and the team announced the unorthodox promotion on a Friday night.

As term length became a sticking point in conversations to retain McCarthy, the Cowboys did not move on until a week after Black Monday passed. This reminded of the team’s delay in firing Jason Garrett in 2020. Labeling the Schottenheimer promotion “a risk, not a Hail Mary,” Jerry Jones had said the OC being in place as an option contributed to the delay in firing McCarthy.

Dak Prescott had endorsed McCarthy, but The Athletic’s Michael Silver notes the veteran quarterback’s rapport with Schottenheimer did well to lead to this unexpected promotion. His HC interviews came after the second-generation NFL staffer expected to be heading elsewhere. Both Aaron Glenn and Mike Macdonald had contacted Schottenheimer about their respective OC positions, Silver reports.

A Jets or Seahawks move would have brought a reunion for the well-traveled coach. Schottenheimer was the Jets’ OC from 2006-11 — a stint that saw him stick around in that role in 2009, despite Rex Ryan beating him out for the New York HC job — and helmed the Seahawks’ offense from 2018-20. But the Cowboys’ interest in Schottenheimer staying — either as an OC or HC — scuttled those respective reunion prospects. While Schottenheimer had told McCarthy he was planning to head elsewhere, confirming (via WFAA’s Ed Werder) he did not view himself as a likely HC option in Dallas, but Jones made it clear he wanted to retain him.

“I’m like, ‘What’s up, Jerry?’ Schottenheimer said (via Silver) of an ensuing phone call with Jones. “And he’s like, ‘Let’s see what this would look like … at the very least, I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here, be my play caller, and be the offensive coordinator. But let’s talk a little bit more in depth.’”

Schottenheimer, 51, had been a non-play-calling OC during McCarthy’s tenure. Even if Jones had insisted on Schottenheimer staying to call plays, that would have been a notable change. It would also not have been the first time Jones mandated a coordinator stay; upon hiring McCarthy, the Cowboys retained Kellen Moore as their play-caller. Though, Moore already called plays under Garrett for a season. Both the Jets and Seahawks’ 2025 OC gigs would have been for play-calling roles; Schottenheimer had called plays for both teams previously.

The Cowboys’ 2025 search consisted of Moore, Schottenheimer, Robert Saleh and Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier. Moore was reported to be a frontrunner at one point, but while the Eagles were journeying to the Super Bowl LIX title, Schottenheimer impressed Cowboys brass. Three days after the Moore report emerged, word circulated the Cowboys were giving serious consideration to elevating Schotteneheimer — during a process that included two lengthy interviews with the three-year Dallas staffer.

Schottenheimer turned down avenues to become the Dolphins’ HC in 2007 — the job eventually went to Cam Cameron — and to land the Bills’ HC post in 2010 (the job went to Chan Gailey), passing on both AFC East situations. The Jets gave Schottenheimer a considerable raise to stay on as OC in 2007. He later interviewed for the Jaguars’ HC gig twice in two years, after the team hired Mike Mularkey over him in 2012 and then moved on after one season. The Bengals also reached out, according to Silver, in 2019 but backed off their pursuit before an interview occurred. Cincinnati hired Zac Taylor. A Texans rumor emerged in late 2020, but no interview commenced; Houston hired a new GM (Nick Caserio) weeks later.

The 2020 Seahawks season then featured tension between Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson, and the QB’s explosive start brought internal “hero ball” accusations. An end zone interception during a November 2020 loss to the Rams prompted Carroll to tell his then-third-year OC he did not recognize the offense the team was running. After Seattle tightened the reins on Wilson after his hot start cooled, Carroll fired Schottenheimer at season’s end. A disastrous one-year fit as Urban Meyer’s Jags QBs coach transpired in 2021.

“I thought I had missed my window,” Schottenheimer said, via Silver. “It’s a young man’s game. My wife and I would sit around at night sometimes talking about it during the offseason, like, ‘Damn, it would have been cool to lead my own team at some point,’ because I knew I would be good at it. I say that humbly. I knew that I’d be good at it because of my people skills, my ability to lead. But I had to come to peace with that.”

Schottenheimer’s ascent in Dallas represents one of the most surprising hires in recent NFL history, but the seasoned HC does carry 14 years of OC experience. The Cowboys will count on him to coax better play from Prescott compared to his 2024 start. McCarthy is not currently on an NFL staff, having backed out of the Saints’ HC pursuit — which Moore won — during that process.