How Cowboys came to decision that Brian Schottenheimer was best coach for them

FRISCO, Texas After meeting with Brain Schottenheimer for several hours over a two-day period last week, Jerry Jones knew the Dallas Cowboys were going to make him the 10th head coach in franchise history.

But the teams owner and general manager, who recently made a cameo appearance on the TV series Landman, couldnt just tell Schottenheimer without creating a little drama.

Advertisement Jones explained to the teams offensive coordinator of the previous two seasons that he felt like the franchise was too close to competing for a championship to give the job to someone without any head-coaching experience.

I started to explain to him that I just couldnt take the risk of going with someone that was doing it for the first time, Jones said Monday.

But the acting quickly ended and Jones revealed their actual decision .

I really couldnt speak, Schottenheimer said.

I immediately went to seeing my fathers face, and knowing how proud he would be of me.

His father, Marty Schottenheimer, was a successful NFL head coach for 21 seasons.

However, despite 13 playoff appearances, he was never able to win a Super Bowl.

After getting the news from Jones, Brian Schottenheimers first call was to his mother.

I was standing with Schotty when he called (her), Jones said as he started choking up.

One of the things he said (was), Mama, Im going to get what Daddy got a chance, but didnt get.

And Im going to get a Super Bowl if it kills me.

His mother of course was emotional.

This one will be for Daddy.

The first one will be for him.

GO DEEPER It's Brian Schottenheimer's show: New Cowboys coach takes over offense, will call plays This was not an obvious choice when Jones and previous Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy decided to part ways after five years together on Jan.

13.

That same day, Jones had a phone conversation with Deion Sanders.

Official interviews then took place with Kellen Moore, Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier.

But Schottenheimer got the final interview, which was then extended another day.

McCarthy called plays during his final two seasons in Dallas after Moore called them the first three seasons.

If given the opportunity to do it over, McCarthy wouldve called the plays from his first day on the job.

But he wanted to keep continuity within the offense, and especially with franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.

Advertisement The move to go with Schottenheimer as head coach has some similarities.

Although he never called the offense, Schottenheimer is familiar with the system.

So Jones had some thought of potentially making him the play caller for the teams next head coach.

But during the interview process, it became more and more clear that Schottenheimer could be the best fit to do both.

His energy, communication skills and direction for the team won over Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones.

Mike McCarthy left some good stuff here, Jerry Jones said.

One of them was Brian.

It was time for a change.

Stephen Jones said the team needed something that was going to freshen it up.

Schottenheimer has 25 years of experience on NFL coaching staffs, he has earned the support from the players and he knows the teams strengths and weaknesses.

Its not just the Xs and Os, Stephen Jones said.

We obviously went extensively through the Xs and Os, but also, you get into the schedules, you get into how you get your players motivated, how you take care of your players.

All those things are part of being a head coach.

And thats a lot.

Most were surprised that the Cowboys would choose to replace their head coach and not interview top candidates like Ben Johnson, who was recently hired as Chicago Bears head coach, and Aaron Glenn, who was hired as New York Jets head coach.

Jerry Jones said he didnt meet with either coach because Schottenheimer has a better understanding of the Cowboys current situation and he thinks Schottenheimer has similar skills as Johnson and Glenn.

It didnt hurt that the team owner had sat in several meetings over the last two years when Schottenheimer would say or do something that made him take notice.

Schotty has a good feel for not only the offensive philosophies where they are today, but where theyre going to go, and certainly where it has been, Jerry Jones said.

Thats rare to come in here with this kind of energy, this kind of, Im going to show them.

Thats rare to combine those two things.

Yeah, therell be change, but well (keep) in place some of the things that we have here now.

Schottenheimer said hes a big believer in using cut splits with his receivers, using shifts and motions to distort things pre-snap, finding different ways to marry their runs and passes so they look the same, and adding more tempo to the offense because it allows the players to play free.

Prescott was one of about 10 players in attendance for Schottenheimers introductory news conference at The Star.

Jerry Jones said he never discussed the new hire with his franchise quarterback before making the final decision.

And maybe he didnt recently.

But its highly unlikely that the team owner would go in this direction without thinking Prescott would be completely on board.

After all, Schottenheimers four-year deal lines up with the four years remaining on Prescotts most recent contract.

Advertisement Hes going to play elite level football, Schottenheimer said of Prescott.

Hes going to lead us to championships.

...

We got the right guy.

Were going to win.

Were going to win a championship.

Otherwise, why are we doing it? In college, Schottenheimer carried a card in his wallet that he had written down a goal to be the youngest head coach in NFL history.

At the time, it was David Shula at 32.

Sean McVay holds the current record at 30.

There were times over the years when the now 51-year-old started thinking it might never happen for him.

But it remained a lifelong dream.

It no longer matters how the critics feel about the Cowboys unique coaching search.

The Joneses have given Schottenheimer his opportunity.

Will it be more of the same, or will he be the one to finally break the streak that now sits at 29 years without an NFC Championship Game appearance? Its been an incredible journey, he said.

Ive had some opportunities when I was a much younger man, that I didnt feel like I was ready.

Im ready now.

I know what I want.

I know what it looks like.

(Top photo of Brian Schottenheimer and Jerry Jones: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images).

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