Dallas Cowboys coaching search: Adam Schefter addresses Brian Schottenheimer rumors, other candidates

There was a stunning shift in the odds for the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on Monday morning, with Brian Schottenheimer now listed as the favorite to land the gig.

Not so fast, said ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

The elite news-breaker joined The Pat McAfee Show on Monday afternoon and chimed in on Brian Schottenheimer as a candidate for the Cowboys. And while it could happen, the news seems ahead of reality at the moment.

“I think the one guy who knows is Jerry Jones, and Jerry Jones is certainly apt to change his mind from day to day,” Schefter said. “Again, I think the candidates have been out there so far. I think Brian Schottenheimer’s the favorite in Las Vegas here. Now, that doesn’t mean that Brian Schottenheimer isn’t going to be the head coach at some point in time. Again, we never rule out anything.

“But to the best of my knowledge he hasn’t interviewed for the job and Dallas hasn’t approached him about being the head coach.”

Brian Schottenheimer just wrapped up his second season as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator following a year as a coaching analyst. He’s been coaching since 1997 and is the son of the late Marty Schottenheimer.

A well-traveled coach, Schottenheimer is well-respected around the league.

“I think the Cowboys absolutely love and respect Brian Schottenheimer and they want him there, but I don’t know that that’s as the head coach right now,” Schefter said. “Again, the process will unfold and we’ll see what twists and turns it takes and maybe it leads them back to Brian Schottenheimer as a head coaching candidate.”

There’s one thing Schefter did note when it comes to Brian Schottenheimer: If he’s offered the opportunity he’s likely to jump at it given his past.

“At one point in time Brian Schottenheimer was like the hot guy out there,” Schefter said. “Roughly, I don’t know, what was it a decade ago? A decade plus ago when he was the offensive coordinator of the Jets and he turned down some jobs.

“I think there’s a lesson there in that when you’re a coordinator and these jobs come along, you’re a GM candidate and these jobs come along, you can’t wait too long. You do have to, you have to strike when you have the opportunity. And it would be great if Brian Schottenheimer were to get another opportunity. I haven’t heard that that’s happening yet. Maybe it does happen down the line, but to my knowledge right now that’s not the case.”