‘Everything Runs Through Ownership’: Brian Schottenheimer Has No Problem With Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s Headset
FRISCO, Texas — An owner listening in on a headset would not bother Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, he said Friday, two days before Dallas plays at the Indianapolis Colts, whose owner does exactly that.
Schottenheimer made the comments on 105.3 The Fan’s Shan & RJ when the hosts asked whether Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s sideline habit would unnerve him, or be a deal breaker in a job interview. Irsay-Gordon spends games on the Indianapolis sideline with a headset, a call sheet, and a pen, the Colts’ team site has noted. She took over as principal owner after her father, Jim Irsay, died in May 2025.
Schottenheimer called it unique but said it would not be a problem for him.
“I think it’s definitely unique. But to me, everything runs through ownership,” Schottenheimer said. “I mean, if they want to listen to the calls and wear a headset, I don’t have a problem with it. I think the biggest thing you look at is you’re able to get a lot of things done throughout the course of the week.”
“And that’s what we pride ourselves on here, is having those weekly conversations, in person, on the phone, where we’re just talking about different things,” Schottenheimer continued. “But I was in Indianapolis, and Carlie’s trying to learn and grow. And I think she’ll do a great job.”
Schottenheimer coached quarterbacks for the Colts in 2016 and 2017. Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard in October, and the Colts are 2-6.
Brian Schottenheimer Says Jerry And Stephen Jones Haven’t Changed
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones and CEO and executive vice president Stephen Jones have treated him the same through the last few weeks, Schottenheimer said, as Dallas fell to 3-5.
“Guys, they’ve been exactly the same,” Schottenheimer explained. “I mean, the one thing I pride ourselves on, I know they do too, is we communicate all the time. I mean, we talk about the things we’re doing well, the things we need to clean up. And I really, I just respect them so much for our ability to have those real candid conversations, because that’s how you find solutions.”
“You get in a room and you talk, whether it’s our Monday meetings, our Friday meetings, game day, but all the different conversations that we have throughout the course of the week,” Schottenheimer added. “We’re all in this thing together, and we’re all working very, very hard to get it fixed.”
Jones Defends Coach Pay On Same Station
Schottenheimer is in his second season after Dallas promoted him from offensive coordinator in January 2025. Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan that he sees no correlation between what a team pays its head coach and how often it wins. On Friday, on the station’s K&C Masterpiece, Jones called the idea that he will not pay what it takes for the right coach “ridiculous” and said he makes all the decisions with the Cowboys, ultimately.
After Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Jones said he was not pointing at Schottenheimer or anyone else, as Dallas Sports Journal reported.
“None of us are getting it done, and that should be my concern,” Jones said Sunday. “So I’m not pointing at Schotty. I’m not pointing at anybody, but none of us have it done.”
Kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for noon CT on FOX.
