The Cowboys parted with head coach Mike McCarthy a year ago, but they did not venture far for a replacement. Nine days after McCarthy's contract expired, owner Jerry Jones promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to replace his former boss. Then 51 years old, Schottenheimer's days as an up-and-coming head coaching candidate had long since passed. What's more, Schottenheimer didn't even call the plays during his two-year run as McCarthy's offensive coordinator. McCarthy's exit nonetheless set the stage for Schottenheimer to handle both responsibilities last season.
To Schottenheimer's credit, his offense did not disappoint. Quarterback Dak Prescott bounced back from a rough, injury-wrecked 2024 to shine in his age-32 season. The Cowboys struck gold on offseason acquisitions George Pickens and Javonte Williams, who emerged as essential weapons for Prescott. With holdovers CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson continuing to produce, the Cowboys stormed to the second-most yards and seventh-highest point total in the NFL.
As prolific as the Cowboys' offense was, it could not overcome one of the worst defenses in franchise history. Weighed down by a unit that surrendered the most points in the league, the Cowboys sputtered to their second straight seven-win showing. It was not a shocking outcome after Jones traded all-world outside linebacker Micah Parsons to Green Bay a week before his team's season opener. The loss of Parsons predictably dealt a devastating shot to Dallas' defense, but its issues went deeper than that. With several upgrades to make and a new D-coordinator in charge, the unit will undergo a much-needed facelift in the next couple of months.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus
- Hired Christian Parker as DC replacement
- Hired Derrick Ansley as defensive pass-game coordinator/DBs coach, replacing Andre Curtis
- Hired Ryan Smith as secondary coach
- Hired Chidera Uzo-Diribe as outside linebackers coach
- Hired Scott Symons as inside linebackers coach
- Hired Marcus Dixon as defensive line coach, replacing Aaron Whitecotton
Keeping up a yearslong tradition, the Cowboys tabbed an ex-head coach as their defensive coordinator last winter. Rod Marinelli, Mike Nolan, Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer had each held the role at times from 2014-24. Nolan and Zimmer were only around for a year apiece. Eberflus, the Bears' head coach from 2022-24, joined the one-and-done club in Dallas last season.
Dallas offseason outlook: Jerry Jones is still calling the shots while drinking shots.
Dallas should pull a double trade back in the first round
For instance
Dallas trades #12 to Pitt for #21, 76, 98, and 121
1200 for 800, 210, 108, and 52
Dallas needs picks due to their cap situation while Pitt trades up and picks their choice of WR to pair with Metcalf. Leaves Pitt with a pick in every round.
Think Pitt makes a run at Willis or Jacoby Brissett and should give them as many weapons as possible.
Dallas trades #20, 112, 177, 215 to Houston for #28, #59
850, 70, 21, 5 for 660,310
Houston picks up their choice of tackle to protect Stroud, picks up some day 3 picks which they like using to take chances on guys in last years of contracts, Dallas picks up another late 1st and recoup a second