‘Tough Profession For Tough People’: Brian Schottenheimer Says Criticism Comes With The Territory As Dallas Cowboys Sit At 2-4
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that some of the criticism aimed at him over the past two weeks is deserved, and that he leans on his pastor, a group of former Navy SEALs, and coaches around the league to stay grounded with Dallas at 2-4.
The Cowboys lost 24-16 at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 8 and 23-13 to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Oct. 18, when Dak Prescott threw 54 passes and Green Bay led 17-0 at halftime. Dallas visits the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
His father, Marty Schottenheimer, was an NFL head coach for 21 seasons with Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego. Schottenheimer blocks out most of what gets said about him.
“I think it comes with the territory. I think some of it is deserved,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ve got to play better. I’ve got to coach better. And so when you grow up in a family that, your dad’s a head coach for over 20-something years, you understand that this is part of the job description.”
“No one likes it. I block out most of it. Some of it gets to me, doing this job and having to speak to you guys is part of that,” Schottenheimer continued. “But at the same time, I’ve got strong shoulders. I know what this team is capable of, and that’s what I focus on.”
Schottenheimer went 7-9-1 in his first season as Dallas’ head coach in 2025. The New York Giants lead the NFC East at 3-2-1, Dallas and Philadelphia are both 2-4, and the Washington Commanders are 1-3-1.
Brian Schottenheimer Leans On Faith, Former Navy SEALs, And Coaches Around The NFL
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher is among the people in the industry who reach out to him, Schottenheimer said. When another coach hits a rough stretch, Schottenheimer tries to do the same.
“It’s different for me, a lot of different things. I talk to my pastor a lot. I talk to Dr. Tony Evans. You guys know my faith is so important and God is so good to me and I’m overly blessed,” Schottenheimer explained. “He kind of keeps me grounded in a good way.”
“There’s a group here by the name of O2X where some of their leadership guys, former Navy SEALs that have seen way worse things than I have in battle, they talk to me about staying consistent with your anchors in life, which is my faith and my family,” Schottenheimer added. “And then, of course, there’s a lot of people in the industry I talk to. Bill Cowher, people reach out.”
Dan Quinn was Dallas’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023 before the Commanders hired him as head coach in 2024. The Cowboys beat Washington 37-20 in Week 2.
“And I’ve been the guy that, when someone’s going through tough times, I try to reach out because I know this is not just solely happening to us,” Schottenheimer detailed. “You talk to people around the league, talk to guys like Dan Quinn, and this is a tough profession for tough people, and that’s why I know I’m built to handle it.”
Running the entire team means handling his own emotions, his players’ emotions, and his coaches’ emotions, and there are days he feels like a clinician or a psychologist.
“It’s more of a head coaching thing in terms of there’s always ups and downs, whether you’re coaching the offensive line, the defensive backs, you’re the coordinator. But when you’re in charge of the entire team, you get pulled in different directions,” Schottenheimer said. “You deal with the emotions that you have. You deal with the emotions that your players have, that your coaches have. And so sometimes you feel like you’re a clinician, a psychologist.”
“And, again, that’s where I think I am at my best. Am I frustrated and pissed off? You’re damn right I am. I’m going to roll my sleeves up and I’m going to go to work and I’m going to solve it,” Schottenheimer noted. “I think by leading that way and being like that, the players are going to follow. The coaches are going to follow. And so that’s the way I take pride in trying to carry myself.”
Schottenheimer Answers Jerry Jones’ Trade Deadline Comments
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones told reporters Wednesday at the NFL’s fall meetings in New York that he could see Dallas being active at the Nov. 10 trade deadline if a deal helped this season’s team. Jones answered “No” on whether the Cowboys could be sellers.
Dallas has already made two trades with the Pittsburgh Steelers since August. The Cowboys acquired right tackle Broderick Jones that month, then sent a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Pittsburgh for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on Oct. 1.
Schottenheimer does not see one deadline move making a big difference. Dallas has 11 games left after Monday.
“Number one, Jerry’s never afraid to make moves. And number two, no, we’ve got a lot of football left, and we’re excited about winning a big game in Philadelphia on Monday,” Schottenheimer said.
Philadelphia is also 2-4 and has lost four straight. Tanner McKee will make his second straight start for the Eagles in place of Jalen Hurts, who is on injured reserve with blood clots. Kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 7:15 p.m. CT on ESPN and ABC.
