Ian Rapoport expresses shock at Dallas Cowboys making Brian Schottenheimer new head coach

NFL insider Ian Rapoport was quite stunned that the Dallas Cowboys hired OC Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, promoting from within.

Rapoport wasn’t alone as fan sentiment was generally confused if not angry. The Cowboys had an interesting coaching search following Mike McCarthy‘s departure.

But Rapoport was especially stunned, curious for one of the top insiders in NFL media.

This really happened. https://t.co/hi9IJm5SyL

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2025

“This really happened,” Rapoport wrote.

The Cowboys initially hired Schottenheimer as a consultant in 2022. However, he was promoted to offensive coordinator on Feb. 4, 2023. Now, Schottenheimer will take the final step on the staff ladder and have a chance to lead the Cowboys.

The Cowboys averaged 328.4 yards per game this past season under Schottenheimer’s guidance. While the figure still ranked in the top half of the league, the Cowboys were at a disadvantage, with key offensive players like QB Dak Prescott and wide receiver Brandin Cooks missing large chunks of the season due to injury.

Brian Schottenheimer hire stuns media

A more telling representation of Schottenheimer’s success as offensive coordinator was the Cowboys’ 2023 campaign when they averaged 371.6 yards per game, the fifth-most in the NFL. Now, Schottenheimer will have a chance to build on the promising flashes he’s shown.

Shortly after the Cowboys named Schottenheimer their next head coach, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler followed up with a report, claiming that former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will be a candidate for Dallas’ defensive coordinator opening.

“Sources consider former #Bears defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus a prime candidate for the #Cowboys defensive coordinator job under new coach Brian Schottenheimer, per sources,” Fowler wrote on X. “Eberflus was a Cowboys assistant from 2011-17.”

Grant Grubbs contributed to this report