Jimmy Johnson Backs Brian Schottenheimer, Says Cowboys Just a Defensive Fix Away
The Dallas Cowboys didn’t punch a ticket to the postseason this year, but that hasn’t stopped Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson from giving first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer a strong vote of confidence.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Johnson praised Schottenheimer for navigating what he called a “difficult situation” in his debut season. And let’s be honest-he’s not wrong. The Cowboys were electric on one side of the ball and downright chaotic on the other.
“They were just horrible on defense,” Johnson said bluntly, before adding that he believes the team is closer to contending than the record might suggest. “Brian Schottenheimer did an outstanding job… if they can make some corrections on defense, they can make a run.”
Let’s unpack that. Dallas finished the season with the seventh-highest scoring offense in the league, averaging 27.7 points per game.
That’s not just good-it’s top-tier production. But the defense?
That’s where things unraveled. The Cowboys gave up a league-worst 30.1 points per game, a number that makes it tough to win no matter how many points your offense puts on the board.
Johnson’s take is simple but sharp: the Cowboys don’t need to be elite on defense-they just need to be competent. “It may not be that you’re going to be dominant,” he said, “but if you’re just good… you can make a run at it.”
That’s a sentiment that will resonate with Cowboys fans who watched their team light up the scoreboard only to watch leads slip away. Johnson also pointed to key offensive pieces like wide receiver George Pickens and the need to stabilize the running back room as critical components to unlocking the team’s full potential.
“If you can keep [Pickens] and get the running back situation going, you can have an outstanding team,” Johnson added.
It’s clear the front office is listening. The Cowboys recently brought in Christian Parker to take over as defensive coordinator-a move aimed squarely at fixing the side of the ball that held them back all year. Parker’s challenge is steep, but the blueprint is there: get this defense to average, and suddenly the Cowboys are a team nobody wants to face.
The last time Dallas made the playoffs was in 2023. If Parker can help the defense find its footing, and Schottenheimer continues to steer the offense with the same firepower, that drought may not last much longer.
One thing’s for sure: Jimmy Johnson sees something brewing in Dallas-and when a legend talks, it’s worth paying attention.