Longtime Cowboys reporter Ed Werder offered insight into the decision made by Dallas owner Jerry Jones to hire Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s head coach rather than waiting for another former assistant to become available.

Werder explained that the Cowboys chose to promote Schottenheimer to the role of offensive coordinator because they believed his personality would be better suited to command the room, demand accountability, and establish leadership compared to another former OC, Kellen Moore, who was coaching in the NFC Championship Game with the Eagles.

Moreover, Schottenheimer’s familiarity with the Cowboys, having served as the offensive coordinator for the team in the past two seasons, also played a significant role in him being selected for the position, according to Werder.

“Continuity of offensive system and positive history with Dak Prescott other factors,” he continued.”

Jones went with Schottenheimer over Moore, who spent five seasons with the Cowboys from 2018-22, with the latter four seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator. 

“Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant,” Jones told ESPN after the hiring. “He ain’t Brian no more. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”  

Schottenheimer’s father, Marty, won 200 games as a head coach of the Browns, Chiefs, Washington and Chargers.

The team also interviewed Leslie Frazier and Robert Saleh for the opening.

The Schottenheimer hiring comes after five years of Mike McCarthy at the helm. 

McCarthy went 49-35 during his tenure in Dallas, but could not reach an agreement on a long-term contract after his deal expired earlier this month. 

The Cowboys are reportedly targeting Matt Eberflus, the Bears head coach from 2022 until his firing late in 2024 and former linebackers coach for Dallas from 2011-17, for their defensive coordinator job.