Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys hasn’t exactly gone to script. The team sits at 6-7-1 with three games left, and barring a miracle, the playoff door is essentially shut. For a franchise that measures itself in postseason runs and Lombardi dreams, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
But if you ask Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the win-loss column doesn’t tell the full story.
“He’s had an outstanding year,” Jones said. “He’s technically as sound as you can draw up.
We like really his philosophy of how to play football. We’ve had some adversity this year, he’s met it head on.
Bottom line is, I’m very pleased with his first year as coach.”
That’s a strong endorsement from the man who signs the checks-and whose expectations rarely leave room for moral victories. But in this case, there’s some real context behind the praise.
Let’s start with the adversity. Schottenheimer walked into a storm before the season even began.
The Micah Parsons trade-a blockbuster move that sent shockwaves through the locker room-hit just a week before opening kickoff. That alone would’ve been enough to rattle most first-year head coaches.
Then came the tragic loss of Marshawn Kneeland, a gut-wrenching moment that tested the emotional resilience of the entire organization.
Instead of letting the season spiral, Schottenheimer steadied the ship. He kept the locker room together, turned inward, and found a way to get his team up for big games.
Wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs weren’t just upsets-they were statements. They showed that, when this team is locked in, they can go toe-to-toe with the best in the league.
Still, for all the grit and resolve, the reality is the Cowboys are likely headed for a second straight season without playoff football. That’s not the standard in Dallas.
And Schottenheimer knows it. He’s made it clear that postseason appearances are the benchmark.
Anything less, and you’re falling short of the franchise’s lofty goals.
But here’s where things get interesting. While the playoff picture is bleak, the development of the roster and the culture shift inside the building are harder to ignore.
Young players have taken meaningful steps forward. The team hasn’t quit.
And in a league where losing streaks often lead to fractured locker rooms and finger-pointing, that says something about the leadership at the top.
Schottenheimer’s first year may not come with a playoff berth, but it’s come with something else-stability. And for a team that’s had its share of drama and dysfunction over the years, that might be a building block worth recognizing.
So while fans will rightfully be frustrated with another year on the outside looking in, Jones is choosing to see the bigger picture. He sees a coach who handled adversity with poise, stuck to his football principles, and kept his team fighting. That might not be enough for everyone, but for Jerry, it’s a foundation.
And in Dallas, foundations matter-especially when the expectations never stop.