Brian Schottenheimer’s introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t merely strange; it was a textbook example of dysfunction. While Schottenheimer avoided the direct awkwardness that defined Liam Coen’s debut in Jacksonville, he couldn’t escape Jerry Jones’ habit of making everything about himself. Between shedding tears and countering the narrative that Schottenheimer is merely a “comfort zone” hire, Jones managed to overshadow his new head coach multiple times — all while attempting to steer the conversation.
When questioned about the rationale behind hiring Schottenheimer, Jones delivered a lengthy monologue filled with anecdotes from his career, his experiences at the Senior Bowl, and his unfulfilled coaching dreams, all while failing to answer the question directly. For those looking for a coherent plan, it was yet another indication that the Cowboys operate on vibes rather than vision. It was a spectacle that The Athletic’s Dianna Russini aptly summarized on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.
“The buzz today has really just been Jerry Jones and the way that press conference went down. It should be studied. The whole thing was really weird. I kept thinking if I was Brian Schottenheimer: Does this owner want me here?” – @DMRussini
WATCH: https://t.co/WFbu4Nwi5J pic.twitter.com/nci47MfbNs
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 28, 2025
“The buzz today has really just been Jerry Jones,” Russini noted during her Tuesday segment, highlighting the press conference’s peculiar moments. She remarked, “It should be studied because there were so many moments of just awkwardness… There were some emotional moments. The whole thing was really weird. I kept thinking, if I was Brian Schottenheimer, does the owner want me here? There was a tone that could be condescending at times. I didn’t get the rah-rah speech from Jerry that made me understand why he stayed in-house and chose the offensive coordinator of the head coach he fired.” To put it simply, the Cowboys appeared unprepared, missing out on more prominent candidates like Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. This isn’t merely a Cowboys issue, according to Russini; it reflects a broader trend of ownership across the league.
“Here’s something I’ve learned over the past few weeks about how organizations see themselves: they do not perceive themselves as we do,” she stated. “They think everybody wants to be associated with them; there’s a lack of self-awareness, given the limited number of NFL teams.” Russini also mentioned the cutthroat nature of the coaching industry and how opportunities are scarce, pointing out that decisions may sometimes reflect a misunderstanding of the market dynamics. “Mike McCarthy, you’re not walking. I’m going to offer you a situation that’s not great, but you have no other options,” might be the mindset that led to the Cowboys’ current predicament.
Ultimately, the Cowboys once again fell short of inspiring confidence and on Monday, they — alongside Jerry Jones — revealed to the NFL world why they have spent nearly three decades chasing relevance rather than championships.
