The appointment of the new Cowboys head coach was a drama-filled ride. You would expect nothing less from Jerry Jones, who recently starred in a cameo role in the TV series “Landman.” From Deion Sanders to Bill Belichick, high-profile names were linked with the vacant seat in Dallas, but Jones went with an option closer to home, placing the reigns in the hands of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, but not before making it clear that it was a “risk.”

Despite the noise and glamor associated with the America’s Team, the queue of the candidates was not large enough. Schottenheimer, 51, interviewed with the team on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Cowboys only formally met three other candidates- former Jets coach Robert Saleh, Eagles OC Kellen Moore, and Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier. But Jones did get on the phone with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

It was reported that the Cowboys expressed some level of interest in Carroll but the conversation with Jones was “informal” and no interview was set. However, it seems the call was about Schottenheimer’s appointment, yes you heard that right.

Jerry Jones is his own man in a lot of ways, but it looks like he had a chat with Carroll over the appointment of the career assistant as the new Cowboys HC.  According to NFL reporter, Jason B. Hirschhorn, Jones said, “I called Pete Carroll to talk about [Brian Schottenheimer],” after hiring the offensive coordinator as the next HC.

Carroll was believed to be in contention for the role after it emerged Jones had talked to him over the phone. Carroll, who the Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks, would have been viewed as a more accomplished hire compared to Schottenheimer, but those plans were dashed when Jones announced the Cowboys’ new HC. Later, it emerged that Carroll also had his eyes somewhere else.

On Monday, $6.7 billion worth Raiders confirmed Carroll as their new head coach, confirming his return to the NFL after a year away. Carroll was last seen in the dugout for the Seahawks, before stepping down in January 2024.

Meanwhile, for Schottenheimer, the challenge of managing the Cowboys is immense. 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. For Brian, this is the first time he has taken up a head coaching gig.

Jones said the former OC’s familiarity with the franchise was a key factor behind his appointment of him but still called the decision “as big a risk as you can take.”

The Cowboys‘ head coach hunting saga has been filled with twists and turns. Jones delayed making a decision about Mike McCarthy’s future first as the Cowboys struggled during the season and then took his time to let him go and hire a replacement. This meant they missed out on interviewing top contenders.

Still, Deion Sanders had a conversation with Jerry Jones, raising hopes of his return to Dallas and a move from college football to the NFL. Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick, was another name in contention, despite signing with UNC. But both of these turned out to be pipedreams for the Cowboys fans.

While introducing Schottenheimer as the new coach, Jones revealed what he told Schottenheimer when he offered him the role.“I started to explain to him that I just couldn’t take the risk of going with someone that was doing it for the first time.”

With 25 years of experience in the NFL including 14 years as an offensive coordinator, Schottenheimer seems ready for the next step. However, the scale of the task won’t be easy. The Cowboys finished last season with a 7-10 record, but Jones still believes the team is poised for a Super Bowl run. No pressure then!

But Schottenheimer seems to be up for the challenge.

Schottenheimer takes the helm for Jerry Jones’ team

Schottenheimer joined Dallas as a coaching analyst in 2022, before being promoted as the offensive coordinator in 2023 following the departure of current Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. In his first year as the OC, the Cowboys led the league with 509 points scored and finished fifth in the league in total yards gained.

The newly appointed HC for the Cowboys opened up on modernizing the Cowboys’ offense for the next season. “I look at some of the things we did in Seattle, but it all things start with what our players do well,” the head coach stated. “I’m a believer in cut splits, shifts, and motions to distort things, marrying our runs and passes and make those things look the same. There’s also a tempo element we’re excited to mix in.”

Translation: Coach Schottenheimer wants to mess with the opponent’s defense’s head, trying to make runs and passes look the same, so they’re never really sure what’s coming next. It’s like playing mind games while the offense does its thing. Hmm, interesting! What’s more in his bucket for the next season? Tempo element, huh?

Looks like the Cowboys are all set to disrupt the opponent’s defensive rhythms and maintain offensive momentum. Honestly, they should. Because the truth is that their O-line had a mixed performance this season. The team ranked 17th in total offense, 11th in passing offense, and 27th in rushing offense.

That said, the Cowboys surely want to improve their stats in the following season. After all, the head coach left the pressers with a solid statement. “We’re gonna win. We’re gonna win a championship. Otherwise, why are we even doing it?”