How many more times will Jerry Jones surprise us? That is the question every Dallas Cowboys fan might be asking at the moment. And it started from Jerry’s Day 1 in the franchise- February 25, 1989- the very day he bought the Cowboys. That day Jerry met Tom Landry, the then-head coach of the Cowboys for the first time, and how did he mark the occasion? By firing Landry who was at the helm of affairs for the first 29 seasons of the franchise. What was all the more shocking was the way Landry was bid goodbye.

“So, Jerry goes down, flies down to Lakeway where Tom is playing golf. He flies down there with Schramm [Tex Schramm, General Manager of the Cowboys from 1960-1989], who is incredibly uncomfortable about the whole thing, and says ‘We are making a change,” Brad Sham, Voice of the Cowboys had revealed in a podcast in 2017.

Albeit Landry was coming off a 3-13 record in 1988, let’s not forget, he won two Super Bowls for the Franchise. The way there was neither a face-saving resignation nor any celebration is astonishing. “It is the most dramatic and emotional story in the history of Dallas sports,” wrote the Dallas Morning News. “This is like Lombardi’s death,” Pete Rozelle had said. Stories tell us that Jones bought the team only because he wanted University of Miami coach Jimmy Johnson to replace Landry, which he did. But even, that chapter also ended with a surprise.

After Johnson brought two back-to-back Super Bowls to the Cowboys, an ego clash started between the two with Johnson accusing Jerry of taking away all the credit. The last nail in that chapter was an apparently leaked conversation that Jones thought was off the record. In that Jones was quoted saying how he should have fired Johnson and brought in Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer. “There are 500 coaches who could have won the Super Bowl with our team,” Jones said. Switzer was eventually hired in 1995 and he indeed went on to become one of those “500 coaches” before things inevitably soured. Like it or not, even an ardent Cowboys fan can not deny that each of these HC decisions proved to be a winning move for the Franchise. But, then the downfall started.

None of the 6 coaches who came to the franchise after Switzer could bring a Super Bowl. No wonder the fanbase will be mad with Jerry. So, when the vacancy for the 10th HC arose after an underwhelming 7-10 season under Mike McCarthy, expectations were huge. Names like Deion Sanders, Pete Carroll, and Robert Saleh added fireworks to the speculations. But it is Jerry Jones after all.

The coaching search ended not with a bang. But with a “Schott.” “Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant,” Jerry told ESPN. “He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.” With this move, the ‘oilman’ has fueled widespread debate, outrage, and memes across the NFL sphere.

The decision to promote Schottenheimer has left many fans scratching their heads. He has been a career assistant so far. The choice feels underwhelming with a 7-10 season under his belt as offensive coordinator and an offense that ranked just 21st in scoring. Yet Jones was confident. But is continuity enough to quell the growing doubts? Is Jones heading toward sabotage?

Schottenheimer brings years of experience. He has worked under legendary coaches. And the list includes his late father, legendary Marty Schottenheimer. His track record includes stints with teams like the Jets, Seahawks, and Rams. Success for him has been sporadic. However, his peak came in 2023. It was when the Cowboys led the league in scoring. But many credit McCarthy’s play-calling for that achievement. Can Schottenheimer replicate those results on his own?

Meanwhile, social media exploded with reactions. It ranged from confusion to outright frustration. Some questioned Jones’s commitment to winning, pointing to Schottenheimer’s lack of head coaching experience. Although others saw it as a power move. They suggested Jones wanted someone easier to control. Whatever the case, the hire has left the fanbase divided and anxious for answers.

The timing of the announcement hasn’t helped either. While the rumored candidates included Kellen Moore and Leslie Frazier, many expected a more exciting choice. Instead, Jones doubled down on familiarity. A decision that feels more like settling than striving. The question now is whether Brian Schottenheimer can prove the doubters wrong or if this move will haunt the Cowboys.

Fan outrage hits fever pitch over Schottenheimer

Cowboys fans are never shy about sharing their opinions. And this occasion demanded some real reflection. Hashtags like #FireSchottenheimer began trending within hours of the announcement. Fans voiced their displeasure. One tweeted, “Been a fan for 30 years. Even named my son Landry. This might be the breaking point of giving up as a Cowboys fan. What an embarrassment of an organization.”

Another fan simply wrote, “I give up being a Cowboys fan.” Fans even from rival teams didn’t hold back. “You Cowboys fans are in my prayers! Jerry has lost it,” one of the fans wrote. Fans were simply left distraught. “What are we doing here? 51 years old and hasn’t gotten any looks as an HC in years and he’s hired? This team is unserious,” one of them wrote on X. And the criticism wasn’t limited to fans.

Former QB Robert Griffin III wrote, “The Dallas Cowboys aren’t serious about winning.” Criticism came from all corners. “One of the darkest days in Dallas Cowboys franchise history,” RJ Ochoa of SB Nation wrote. While some fans and pundits are still left scratching their heads.

Former WR Dez Bryant seemed perplexed. “I honestly don’t know how to feel right now..I’m trying to understand what Jerry meant by saying he was “all in”. Maybe the coach is good, maybe he’s not, but my energy towards how the Cowboys have been mixing things doesn’t feel like success anytime soon..,” Bryant wrote.

The pressure is now squarely on Schottenheimer to deliver. Anything less than a deep playoff run will likely be seen as a failure. For Jones, the stakes are even higher. Another misstep could tarnish his legacy and alienate a fanbase desperate for success.

This latest chapter of the drama feels particularly risky for the Cowboys. The clock is ticking for Brian Schottenheimer and Jerry Jones. The spotlight in Dallas has never been brighter. And the stakes have probably never been any higher.