Pro Football Rumors
The Cowboys cannot interview Kellen Moore again until at least next week, and if the Eagles reach Super Bowl LIX, no reunion can commence until February 10. That delay could contribute to one of the more shocking hires in recent NFL history.
As of now, Moore and Brian Schottenheimer may be the finalists for this job, WFAA’s Ed Werder notes. But Schottenheimer, who has not sat down for another known HC interview in the 2020s, appears a serious candidate after his two-day Cowboys meeting.
Working as Mike McCarthy‘s OC for the past two seasons, Schottenheimer met with the Cowboys for a lengthy interview that ended up lasting two days. Whether the second part of the meeting constituted a second interview or not, Jerry Jones appears to have another unorthodox hire on his radar. Going further here, All DLLS’ Clarence Hill indicates a Schottenheimer deal to be Dallas’ next HC should be done today or Friday.
Jones has regularly zagged with his coaches. He has also promoted from within previously. Prior to giving interim HC Jason Garrett the full-time job in 2011, the longtime owner elevated Dave Campo to replace Chan Gailey in 2000. Schottenheimer, 51, has been in the NFL since 2001 — when he debuted as father Marty‘s QBs coach with Washington — and has been a three-time OC. The Jets employed Brian Schottenheimer in that role from 2006-11, and the Rams hired him in 2012. After that three-year stint, Schottenheimer did not receive another OC opportunity until the Seahawks hired him in 2018. Seattle fired the second-generation NFL coach in 2021, leading him to a pass-game coordinator post for the Urban Meyer-run Jaguars and then an analyst gig in Dallas.
With the Commanders securing a spot in the NFC championship game, the Cowboys now have the conference’s longest drought of reaching that round. The Bears, who last qualified for the NFC title game in 2010, are the closest team to the Cowboys, who famously have not played for a conference championship since their Super Bowl XXX-winning season in 1995. Jones, whose separation from Jimmy Johnson after the 1993 season provided a fairly clear line of demarcation for the franchise (its Barry Switzer-coached Super Bowl XXX title notwithstanding), has faced steady criticism over his decisions. This one coming to pass would undoubtedly crank up the heat on the scrutinized owner.
Jones’ head coaching processes have been unusual. Calls for Garrett’s ouster rang out for years, but the criticized HC lasted through the 2019 season. It took several days after that season wrapped for clarity to emerge, and Jones’ replacement search consisted of just two names — McCarthy and Marvin Lewis. After making McCarthy the rare lame-duck HC despite three straight 12-win seasons, Jones did not resolve the situation until a week after Black Monday, going so far as to block the Bears from meeting with McCarthy in that span. McCarthy remains in the mix for the Saints’ HC post.
The Cowboys join the Jaguars, Saints and Raiders [in still...
