The Cowboys‘ 2024 season unraveled long before it ended. By Week 9, Dallas had already lost five of their first eight games. But the real blow came in that game against the Falcons, when Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury that ended his season. Cooper Rush stepped in and finished with a 4-4 record as a starter, but the Cowboys failed to make the playoffs. Adding salt to the wound, NFC East rivals Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl, and Commanders reached the NFC Championship with rookie Jayden Daniels. Once again, Dak Prescott watched the big games from the outside.
Following that bitter end, Jerry Jones opted not to bring in a high-profile outsider to replace Mike McCarthy. Instead, he promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach—a decision shaped as much by budget as belief. But Schottenheimer isn’t just any internal hire. The son of legendary NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian has been steeped in football culture his entire life. And now, he’s putting that legacy to work—starting with the locker room.
The Cowboys have long been criticized for lacking urgency and identity. That’s exactly what Schottenheimer set out to change, and quarterback Dak Prescott made sure to spotlight it. In a moment that quickly made the rounds on social media, Prescott called out his coach’s efforts in a short but powerful message: “Hell of a job.”
Brian Schottenheimer is doing a ‘hell of a job’ building the culture.
QB1 is all in on Schotty. pic.twitter.com/bocqLKxkQg
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) May 25, 2025
“Great job in building the culture. I mean, look at him right there, seeing and dapping off guys. Preaching about competing every day, but not only that, we’re doing that in team meetings, competing at practice,” Prescott said. That buy-in from QB1 is crucial. Prescott, entering his ninth season in Dallas, has never made it past the Divisional Round. He knows what’s missing. And so does his new coach.
There were holes in the O-line. Last year, the Cowboys finished 27th in the league with 429 rushes for 1705 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. Contrast that with 14 for Jalen Hurts or 12 for Josh Allen. With only 23 touchdowns, they came 13th in the receiving game as well. And the new HC is making locker room changes to close these gaps on the field.
Brian Schottenheimer shuffles the locker room
For Brian Schottenheimer, cultural reset doesn’t just mean slogans on the wall. It means structure—down to where his stars keep their cleats. His first meaningful move? Reorganizing the locker room. Dak Prescott and defensive superstar Micah Parsons now sit next to each other—offense and defense, side-by-side.
It’s more than symbolic. The idea is to promote constant communication between the two vocal leaders of the team. It’s a design choice that reinforces accountability, unity, and shared responsibility. This is the kind of move that comes from someone who’s watched winning programs thrive not just because of playbooks—but because of leadership.
Parsons, meanwhile, is still waiting on a long-term contract. Jerry Jones hasn’t inked the (expected) record-breaking extension yet, but internally, the linebacker is already viewed as the alpha on defense—just as Dak is on offense.
Beyond culture, Schottenheimer knows he needs production. One of the biggest changes? The addition of wide receiver George Pickens from the Steelers. With CeeDee Lamb already the team’s WR1, Pickens gives Dak another explosive option. And Schottenheimer’s familiarity with the roster after three seasons in Dallas gives him an edge—he knows who fits, and who doesn’t.
The Cowboys are still dealing with unanswered questions, from Micah’s contract to Dak’s long-term future. But Schottenheimer is betting on unity and detail to pull them forward. His focus on culture and leadership may not generate instant wins—but it might finally lay the groundwork for the kind of postseason success that has eluded this team for nearly three decades.
It’s too early for bold predictions, but if the Cowboys finally turn the corner in 2025, it won’t be because of splashy headlines. It’ll be because their new head coach understood where the foundation needed to be laid—and who needed to stand next to whom.
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