Brian Schottenheimer’s Steady Hand and Full Heart Are Powering the Cowboys’ Late-Season Surge
There’s a small piece of cardboard that’s been riding in Brian Schottenheimer’s pocket since Week 6 - a 1971 Topps rookie card of his father, Marty Schottenheimer. Encased in a PSA-graded plastic shell, the card is more than just memorabilia. It’s a quiet, personal reminder of the man who helped shape him - not just as a coach, but as a person.
On the back, there’s a stat line from Marty’s playing days with the Boston Patriots, a few sentences about his career, and a note that he had the longest name in the AFC. But for Brian, it’s not about the trivia. That card is a steadying presence - a piece of home he carries with him on the sideline.
“They knew how much I missed him,” Schottenheimer said, holding back emotion after the Cowboys’ 31-28 win over the Chiefs. The card was a gift from his aunt and uncle, handed to him before Dallas played in Carolina in mid-October.
“To be able to have my dad with me just kind of in my pocket, it strengthens my resolve at times. It keeps me calm at times.”
And calm has been necessary.
This season has been anything but easy for the Cowboys or their first-year head coach. Just a week before the season opener, Dallas made a stunning move, trading away their best player, Micah Parsons.
That rocked the locker room and left a gaping hole in a defense already short on answers. By the time the Week 10 bye rolled around, the Cowboys were 3-5-1, and the playoff picture looked bleak.
But the Cowboys weren’t done.
They swung a pair of trades to bolster the defense, bringing in Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson. There was also hope on the injury front, with linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and rookie cornerback Shavon Revel nearing returns from major knee injuries. For a defense that had been among the league’s worst, reinforcements were coming - and not a moment too soon.
Then, tragedy struck. Just two days after the trade deadline, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The team was stunned. The locker room, gutted.
And Schottenheimer, like everyone else, was grieving.
But through the heartbreak, something shifted. The Cowboys responded with their best football in years - rattling off three straight wins over the Raiders, Eagles, and Chiefs.
That’s not just any stretch. That’s three playoff-caliber opponents, all led by Super Bowl-winning head coaches: Pete Carroll, Nick Sirianni, and Andy Reid.
And Schottenheimer? He outcoached them all.
“It’s been amazing,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “He’s consistent.
That’s something he talks about, but to actually watch him live it - through adversity, through success - it’s real. He’s a hell of a leader.
He’s the right guy for the job.”
Consistency, authenticity, and connection - those are the pillars Schottenheimer has leaned on. And it’s not just talk.
When he speaks about the impact of Kneeland’s death, it’s raw and real. “It reminded me of how blessed I am to be in this role,” he said.
“I’m not afraid to cry in front of the guys when I’m sad. I’m not afraid to yell when I’m mad.
I stay true to my emotions.”
That honesty has resonated deeply in the Cowboys’ locker room. Players talk about how he’s built a culture rooted in trust, care, and unity. It’s not just about X’s and O’s - it’s about people.
“He cares a ton about the team,” said defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. “He’s doing a great job of making sure we’re connected, leaning into our strength - our brotherhood.”
That brotherhood is visible in the little things, too. On Saturdays before home games, families of players and coaches are invited to watch walk-throughs at The Star.
Afterward, they spend time together - not as a team, but as a family. Those moments matter, especially in a season like this one.
Now, somehow, the Cowboys are back in the conversation. They’ve got a shot at a fourth straight win when they head to Detroit for Thursday Night Football. It’s still an uphill battle to reach the postseason, but the door is open - and that’s more than anyone expected a few weeks ago.
And through it all, Schottenheimer hasn’t wavered. He’s leaned into who he is - a coach shaped by years in the game, a son carrying forward the lessons of a legendary father, and a leader who isn’t afraid to show his heart.
“I’m always going to be real,” he said. “I think that’s what allows you to impact people: when you’re authentic, you’re real, you care about people. And that’s the way I was raised.”
Marty Schottenheimer won 200 games as a head coach. He was known for his toughness, his discipline, and his ability to build winners.
But to Brian, he was more than that - he was a father, a mentor, and a compass. And now, in a season filled with challenges, that compass is never far away.
It’s right there in his pocket - reminding him to lead with heart, to stay true, and to keep going.