Brian Schottenheimer’s culture is clearly taking hold.
Brian Schottenheimer has carried himself rather well since becoming the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. It feels like most would agree that the issue with the his hire wasn’t so much about the person but about the process. That is and was obviously not Schottenheimer’s fault, but to his credit he has seemingly been working in overdrive to make the most out of his first opportunity to run an NFL team.
In the few times that Schottenheimer has spoken publicly since taking over his new post he has done so with authority. Interestingly, shockingly even, the Cowboys front office has somewhat stepped out of the way and allowed him to serve as a front-man in ways that head coaches conventionally do across the NFL, but that has not necessarily been par for the course with this franchise.
Actions speak louder than words though, and while this is still a words part of the offseason it appears that some action is working out already. Consider that Schottenheimer spoke at the recent NFL owner meetings about a big topic encircling his team in Micah Parsons and the contract negotiations he is in the process of with the team. Schottenheimer stood tall in saying that he expected Parsons to be at voluntary workouts and Parsons was there. Crediting it all to Schottenheimer might have been a leap, but it seems he deserves more than his fair share based on what Parsons said on Tuesday evening.
Why was it important for Micah Parsons to show up at voluntary workouts? Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer played a huge role. @JoeJHoyt with the question. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/8nAZ6HNza3
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) April 23, 2025
“Just talking to Schotty and telling me the importance, how it is to come, be there… what he’s trying to prove… show to the team. I just thought it was important… one, for me and my relationship with our new head coach to understand where he’s coming from and to help him in any way I can to go on this run. That goes to show… Schotty shows up to my event. Schotty’s been around and is trying to build relationships so I feel like we’re at the point where if he asking for me to come in for a couple days to… for it’s important for the relationship aspect and be around for the guys… showcase… that’s something I wanna do for my coach.”
It has seemed from the very beginning that Schottenheimer has wanted to focus on the relationships that he can cultivate with important players to the team. Parsons obviously falls well within that camp as the best one on the roster.
Consider a story that Osa Odighizuwa shared while on Kay Adams’ show Up & Adams right after signing his new deal with the team. Odighizuwa noted that Schottenheimer found out where he and his group were celebrating his deal at dinner, and Schottenheimer had a bottle of wine sent over.
These may seem like little things, and to be clear nobody is saying that these tactics will pay off in the Divisional Round of next season’s playoffs. Still, Schottenheimer deserves credit for beginning to cultivate a culture in which his players care for and trust him, so much so that they will do something that some would argue runs counter to their best interest like Parsons reporting for voluntary workouts amid contract negotiations.
