Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a reputation for bold, sometimes controversial decisions when it comes to coaching hires, and his selection of Mike Schottenheimer as head coach could have been another blunder on par with the infamous Garrett-Phillips fiasco.
The Garrett-Phillips saga, which began when Jason Garrett was promoted to head coach in 2010, and the ill-fated hiring of Scott Phillips as defensive coordinator, were seen as instances where Jones’ decision-making caused turmoil within the franchise. Schottenheimer’s hiring came close to resembling that same pattern, as Jones appeared to be on the verge of repeating history with a controversial choice for the team’s next leader.
To understand the gravity of the potential misstep, one must revisit the earlier Garrett-Phillips debacle. Garrett, initially hired as offensive coordinator in 2007, was viewed by Jones as the coach who could lead the Cowboys back to prominence after a period of mediocrity. However, after Wade Phillips’ firing mid-season in 2010, Garrett was suddenly thrust into the role of head coach, despite lacking extensive experience in the position. While Garrett’s tenure was marked by some successes, it was also defined by inconsistency, a lack of playoff success, and a strained relationship with both players and fans. Jones’ decision to hand Garrett the reins was heavily criticized, with many questioning whether it was too soon, especially after the failure to fire Garrett after another underwhelming season in 2014.
Jones compounded his questionable judgment in the defensive department, where he named Scott Phillips as the defensive coordinator in 2010. Phillips, a former assistant, lacked a proven track record, and his tenure quickly descended into disarray. The defense failed to improve under his leadership, and the combination of a green head coach and a coordinator with little experience led to years of mediocrity for the Cowboys.
Now, as the Cowboys’ coaching carousel spun once again in the 2020s, Jones seemed poised to repeat history with Mike Schottenheimer, a name not exactly synonymous with success in recent years. Schottenheimer had been a career assistant, and though he had served as an offensive coordinator with teams like the New York Jets and the St. Louis Rams, his stints were largely marked by inconsistency. While he had some success early in his career, particularly with the Jets, Schottenheimer’s offenses in later years were often criticized for their lack of innovation and failure to adapt to modern NFL schemes.
When rumors began swirling that Schottenheimer was a serious candidate for the Cowboys’ head coach job, many questioned Jones’ thought process. Was he about to make another rash decision that would leave the franchise in turmoil, just as Garrett and Phillips had done? Could the Cowboys risk repeating another failed experiment that had haunted them for nearly two decades?
As it turns out, Jones was far from making the same mistakes. In a rare moment of clarity, Jones reevaluated the potential risks of hiring Schottenheimer. Rather than rushing into a decision based on familiarity or previous relationships, Jones took a more methodical approach, eventually settling on a different candidate with more proven success.
Thus, Schottenheimer was never hired as head coach, and the Cowboys avoided what could have been another disastrous chapter in their storied coaching history. But the near-hire serves as a reminder of just how close Jones came to repeating past mistakes, and it shows how fragile the line is between success and failure in the NFL’s ever-changing landscape.
