As OTAs roll on and the countdown to Dallas Cowboys training camp shortens, Brian Schottenheimer is wasting no time putting his stamp on the franchise. In his first year as head coach, Schottenheimer isn’t shying away from the weight of expectations in Dallas, but he’s also not letting history dictate the present.
“I don’t get caught up in the drought,” Schottenheimer told reporters, referring to the Cowboys’ nearly three-decade Super Bowl absence. “This is one year. This is the first year of mine. Are we going to win the Super Bowl this year? I hope. I think we are. If we don’t, you move on.”
It’s the kind of mindset that defines the 51-year-old rookie HC’s approach: urgent, but not paralyzed by pressure. Optimistic, but grounded in process. At the heart of it is a belief that everything starts with how the team practices.
“The way we practice and the way I act at practice, my father is looking down from heaven going, ‘What are you doing? That’s not how you practice,” Schottenheimer said. “But my father also coached a long time ago. The type of athletes and young men we’re dealing with has changed. I believe it’s the coach’s responsibility to create a great practice environment.”
That means energy. That means engagement. And yes, that means a little trash talk.
“If we’re not into it, not running around, not talking sh*t, then the players aren’t going to do it,” he continued. “They’re going to follow our lead.”
Schottenheimer credited former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, whom the first-year head coach worked under as Seattle’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020, for helping shape that philosophy. It’s about creating competitive energy every day, something Schottenheimer believes is important if Dallas is going to turn potential into postseason results.
The Cowboys’ talent is undeniable. But the message from their new head coach is clear: culture, energy, and accountability will define their ceiling in 2025.
This isn’t about ghosts of the past. It’s about today. And Schottenheimer’s already made it clear: he’s all in.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Not Marty’s NFL: Cowboys HC Schottenheimer refuses to be bound by his nor team’s history
Reporting by Ali Jawad, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
