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Jerry Jones raised plenty of eyebrows when he promoted Brian Schottenheimer from offensive coordinator to head coach after the Cowboys’ disappointing 2024 campaign. But the skepticism that initially surrounded the hire is starting to fade. Even coaches from division rivals are publicly backing Schottenheimer as the right man for the job in Dallas.
“He was born to be a head coach,” Washington Commanders RB coach Anthony Lynn said.
Commanders RB coach Anthony Lynn on Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer:
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) June 25, 2025
"He was born to be a head coach."@DLLS_Sports | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/9ctr4omCSz
Brian Schottenheimer is built for the grind
The endorsement for Schottenheimer isn’t coming from just anyone. Lynn, who previously led the Chargers as head coach, worked alongside “Schotty” during their time with the Jets. Lynn’s perspective carries weight – he knows firsthand about the coaching bloodlines flowing through Schottenheimer’s veins (his father is legendary NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer).
When Lynn says Schottenheimer was “born to coach,” he’s not just throwing out a cliché. He’s speaking from personal experience with both Brian and the Schottenheimer family tradition deeply rooted in NFL coaching circles.
The two former colleagues will now face off twice yearly as NFC East opponents. Lynn’s Commanders are coming off a remarkable season that left them just one win shy of reaching the Super Bowl.
Dallas has a steep hill to climb after dropping 10 games last season.
The transition won’t be seamless. While Schottenheimer served as offensive coordinator last year, he wasn’t calling plays – that was McCarthy’s domain. Now the Cowboys offense must adjust to both a new scheme and a different play-caller simultaneously.
“I think there will be some things Brian Schottenheimer keeps, but he’ll probably also change several things,” Jon Machota of The Athletic wrote.
“The areas I think the biggest noticeable changes could be more pre-snap motion, more ways to get KaVontae Turpin involved in the offense and more success in the screen-passing game.”
This public vote of confidence from a rival coach should reassure Cowboys fans still on the fence about Schottenheimer. Talent isn’t the issue in Dallas – it’s finding a coach who can push these players to maximize their potential. If Schottenheimer can strike that balance, the Cowboys might soon return to serious contention in the NFC.
