The Dallas Cowboys made waves-and not the good kind-when they hired Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach. The move was met with skepticism, even frustration, from a fan base that wasn’t shy about voicing concerns.
But now, 12 games into the season, it’s getting harder and harder to argue with the results. While the win-loss column might not scream "Coach of the Year," there’s a different kind of transformation happening in Dallas-and it starts with culture, energy, and a modernized approach on offense.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about the scoreboard. It’s about how the Cowboys are playing, how they’re responding in tough moments, and how the locker room feels after wins.
Under Schottenheimer, this team looks and feels different. There’s a visible edge, a belief, and a level of emotional investment that wasn’t always there under Mike McCarthy.
You don’t need a stat sheet to see it-just watch the way players rally around their coach or celebrate after a big win. The vibe has shifted.
Even ESPN’s Adam Schefter took a moment on his podcast to spotlight what Schottenheimer has brought to the table. While the national media buzz is centered around Ben Johnson-who’s done an outstanding job leading the Bears to a 9-3 record and the NFC’s top seed-Schefter made it a point to shine some light on Dallas.
“How about Brian Schottenheimer, who literally was out there in the coaching cycle the last 15 years?” Schefter said.
“People thought it was a fallback selection, somebody they didn’t want. Cowboys fans, let me call them out right now.
I heard from a number of them. They were not happy with the selection.
How do you feel about Brian Schottenheimer now?”
It’s a fair question.
Because when you look at how Dallas has performed in high-pressure matchups this season-specifically against the Eagles and Chiefs-it’s hard not to wonder if those games would’ve gone the same way under the previous regime. The Cowboys didn’t just hang around in those games.
They responded. They fought back.
And they finished.
Take the Eagles game. Dallas fell behind 21-0-a deficit that, in recent years, would’ve felt like the end of the road.
But this time, they didn’t fold. They clawed back.
They made it a game. That’s a mentality shift.
Then there’s the Kansas City game. The Chiefs had just stormed back in the fourth quarter, cutting the Cowboys’ lead to 28-21.
With 9:27 left and the ball pinned deep at their own 10-yard line, most coaches would’ve played it safe. Not Schottenheimer.
On the very first play of the drive, he dialed up play-action-a bold call in that situation-and Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb up the right sideline for a 51-yard gain. That’s not just aggressive; that’s trusting your quarterback, your playmakers, and your philosophy.
That’s coaching with confidence.
A sack there could’ve been disastrous-maybe even a safety. But Schottenheimer bet on his offense, and it paid off. That’s the kind of calculated risk-taking this team lacked under McCarthy, especially in big moments.
Now, is Schottenheimer the front-runner for Coach of the Year? Probably not-not with Johnson and Mike Vrabel turning heads.
But if the Cowboys run the table or even finish 10-6-1 and somehow miss the playoffs, Schottenheimer’s name deserves to be in that conversation. He’s taken a team that looked stagnant and injected life, belief, and a modern edge.
Bottom line: the Cowboys are playing with purpose again. And that’s not just about scheme-it’s about leadership. Brian Schottenheimer may not have been the flashy hire, but 12 games in, he’s proving he was the right one.