What is Jerry Jones Thinking? The Cowboys’ Latest Coaching Blunder
Let’s get straight to the point: what in the world is going on with the Dallas Cowboys? The franchise that was once the epitome of football excellence has now ventured into the absurd. Jerry Jones has made his latest head-scratching move by firing Mike McCarthy after a perfectly respectable 49-35 overall record, but a disappointing 7-10 record, and replacing him with… Brian Schottenheimer?
Yes, you read that right. Brian Schottenheimer—who has never been a head coach at any level—will now lead the Cowboys. Troy Aikman told us it was a franchise without a clear plan. It seems the multi-time Super Bowl champion is right. Instead of looking for a proven leader to guide this team to a Super Bowl, Jerry Jones has doubled down on mediocrity with a coach who’s bounced from team to team and role to role for 24 years. This is the man who’s supposed to push the Cowboys over the top? It’s a decision that reeks of desperation, not boldness.
The McCarthy Firing: A Case of Unreasonable Expectations
When McCarthy was hired, the goal was clear: get the Cowboys to that elusive next level. In five years, he delivered four playoff appearances, something Dallas hadn’t seen under Jason Garrett. Yes, McCarthy had his flaws—his 1-3 postseason record and some questionable game decisions—but he was far from the disaster some make him out to be.
So why fire him now? The Cowboys had a winning record under McCarthy before, and they were competitive year after year. I get this year’s disappointments. But Jones, as usual, couldn’t resist the urge to meddle. Instead of hiring a proven, high-profile coach, he chose Schottenheimer. The same Schottenheimer who, despite a long career, has never proven he can lead a team. This isn’t a bold move; it’s a sad attempt to keep the status quo in place.
The Search for a New Coach: A Comedy of Errors
Let’s not pretend the Cowboys didn’t at least do some homework before landing on Schottenheimer. They interviewed several qualified candidates, including Robert Saleh, Leslie Frazier, and Kellen Moore. But, as expected, Jerry couldn’t resist the “familiarity” factor—Schottenheimer had been the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys for a few seasons. Still, familiarity doesn’t equal excellence, and nothing about Schottenheimer’s track record suggests he’s capable of leading this team.
Deion Sanders, despite what some may claim, wasn’t a real candidate. Yes, he had a conversation with the team, but his commitments as the head coach at Colorado made him an unlikely fit. It’s also hard to ignore the fact that Jerry Jones has rarely—if ever—seriously considered a person of color for the head coach role, no matter how successful they might be. But let’s stick with the facts: Schottenheimer got the job because of “familiarity” and, perhaps more importantly, because Jerry Jones seemed to believe he was the safe, low-risk option.
Schottenheimer’s Resume: Why Him?
The question still lingers: why Schottenheimer? Sure, he’s had success as an offensive coordinator with teams like the Seahawks and Jets. He’s worked with Russell Wilson and has a reputation for running the ball effectively. But none of that has anything to do with leading an entire franchise. He’s never been tasked with the pressure of being the guy in charge. And now, after just two years as an offensive analyst, he’s supposed to take the Cowboys to the promised land?
It’s mind-boggling. Schottenheimer’s best days were spent calling plays, not making the big decisions that a head coach must. His hiring is a gamble—one that doesn’t inspire any confidence in the future of this team.
The Real Problem: Jerry Jones’ Impulsive Decision-Making
Make no mistake, firing McCarthy was a rash decision. While McCarthy wasn’t perfect, he had the Cowboys competitive, and he had to deal with a revolving door of injuries and inconsistent performances. Expectations were too high for a coach tasked with getting the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl. But instead of hiring a proven winner, Jones went for the “familiar” choice—a man who has never held the reins of a team.
Let’s be honest: Jerry Jones has consistently proven that he’s more interested in controlling the team than making sound decisions. The Cowboys are loaded with talent, but the roster still has holes, especially on the offensive line and at wide receiver. Schottenheimer has a lot of work to do, but does anyone believe a coach with zero head coaching experience will be the one to lead this team to greatness?
The Verdict: C-
This decision feels like another chapter in the Cowboys’ ongoing saga of mediocrity. McCarthy wasn’t perfect, but he and a few others were perhaps better coaches for a team that needed stability. Schottenheimer, on the other hand, is a risk—an unproven commodity who’s been around the league but never in charge. Jerry Jones could have gone after a proven winner, someone who could actually take the Cowboys to the next level. Instead, he went with the safe, uninspiring choice.
Then, to top it off, they brought in a defensive coordinator whose defense was one of the worst in the league last season. It’s almost comical at this point—like, how do you even justify this? And no amount of spin can fix the fact that they’re being totally outflanked and outclassed by teams like the Eagles and Commanders in their own division. Even in the broader NFC, they’re not better than teams like the Lions, Vikings, Seahawks, Rams, Packers, or Bucs.
Unless something changes drastically, this hire is just another case of Jones failing to fix the real problems with the team. A new coach won’t fix a fractured culture, and it won’t address the roster’s glaring needs. It’s time for Jerry Jones to stop making impulsive decisions and start building a team that can finally live up to the hype. Until then, the Cowboys are stuck in a cycle of disappointment.