Dallas Cowboys have flooded social media with criticism of the franchise’s decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach.
It was announced on Friday night that the offensive coordinator had been chosen by owner Jerry Jones to replace Mike McCarthy in what will be his first head coaching job in the NFL.
The 51-year-old Schottenheimer, son of the late NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, joined the Dallas staff as a consultant in 2022 and held the offensive coordinator title the past two seasons while McCarthy was the play-caller.
McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways earlier this month after his initial five-year contract with the club expired. He then interviewed with Chicago, but the Bears hired Ben Johnson instead.
In what is being described as an uninspiring decision, Cowboys fans are venting their fury on social media.
One commented: ‘The franchise waited until 10pm at night to make this announcement because it’s such a joke’.
The Dallas Cowboys are hiring Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach
The offensive coordinator has been chosen by Jerry Jones to replace Mike McCarthy
Another wrote: ‘Literally the worst Head Coach hire I have ever seen… Didn’t even call plays last season and he got a job where he has to create a game plan on both sides of the ball…’
A third posted: ‘This is the moment I might quite the fanbase’.
‘What are we doing here?’ asked another. ’51 years old, hasn’t gotten any looks as a HC in years and he’s hired? This team is unserious.’
One fan added: ‘Lifelong fan here you have alienated me to the point that I no longer have an interest in the performance of this team. Don’t care about winning? Now neither do I.’
The fury continued with another declaring: ‘Good Lord… would have been better off keeping Mike McCarthy if this is the best they could do.’
A passionate fan declared it a ‘despicable decision’ and vowed to ‘boycott this organization after 40 years!’.
The Cowboys interviewed Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and had a conversation with Colorado’s Deion Sanders.
‘Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant,’ Jones said, when announcing the deal. ‘He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.’
Schottenheimer has been in charge of the offense led by Dak Prescott in recent seasons
Tom Brady shakes hands with Schottenheimer prior to their game against Cleveland Browns
It leaves just one head coach opening in the NFL: New Orleans Saints.
Schottenheimer will be officially introduced as the Cowboys head coach on Monday.
Reports suggest he has already started to form his coaching staff in Dallas with fired Bears coach Matt Eberflus a leading candidate for the defensive coordinator position.
While many other teams are hiring exciting names to lead their franchise, fans have slammed Jones and the Cowboys since links to Schottenheimer emerged.
Fox’s Colin Cowherd even claimed controversial owner Jones is ‘lost at sea’.
In a three-minute monologue on his show, Cowherd said: ‘We are watching the fall of a great American institution. He’s not even interviewing for other jobs.
‘Never been a head coach, never been a top candidate for a head coach. He’s bounced around the league, dad was a legend… nice guy, but 7-10 football teams don’t move off a coach and then hire the offensive coordinator who didn’t call plays.’
Schottenheimer has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career, beginning as an assistant in 1997 with the St Louis Rams.
He has been OC with the Jets, Rams, Seahawks and Cowboys – and in college with Georgia – while also dropping down to become QBs coach with the Colts and Redskins.
His father Marty is a Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer who won NFL Coach of the Year in 2004 with the Chargers, and spent nine years in charge at Arrowhead.
