Cowboys news: Micah Parsons and Donovan Ezeiruaku connecting on and off the field

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys second round pick are hitting it off

Donovan Ezeiruaku opens up about first minicamp, Micah’s influence – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com

Micah Parsons is taking the Dallas Cowboys‘ second-round pick under his wing.

It bodes well for the upstart NFL pass rusher that his position group is led by none other than Micah Parsons, an All-Pro who is off to a historic start to his career and, despite ongoing contract negotiations, reported to minicamp with the added goal of mentoring and coaching up the younger talent on the defensive line.

“I told them no egos in this room,” said Parsons of his message to the group. “… If I’m not [hustling], tell me to get the f-ck on. … Everybody’s sh-t stinks. We’re not all perfect.”

The words resonate heavily with Ezeiruaku and others.

“Nobody’s above anybody,” he said. “We all have different successes, and have all done certain things already in the game. [Granted, in the NFL] I haven’t done anything, but it doesn’t matter, because if one guy isn’t going hard, we’re gonna get on that guy the same way as anybody else was not going hard.

“Everybody’s equal.
That’s pretty much what we mean by [an egoless group].”

The bond has also been made more profound off of the field, by way of group gatherings that include bowling nights, and though the super-competitive Parsons may or may not agree, Ezeiruaku pointed out he’s one to contend with at the lanes; and that he routinely bowls “in the [200s]”.

A close-knit group and locker room speaks largely to the culture being constructed by head coach Brian Schottenheimer and, to this point, there is evidence everywhere of its early roots taking hold.

Cowboys’ Schottenheimer as first-year coach and playcaller – Todd Archer, ESPN

A first-time head coach must be prepared for multiple curveballs in their inaugural season in the NFL.

Callahan and Canales mentioned game management as a large aspect of their jobs that needed an adjustment. Canales has George Li as the Panthers’ game management coordinator. They watched playoff games together last year to go over end-of-half and end-of-game scenarios, as well as when to use the challenge flag.

“He’s peppering me with different situations that come up throughout the week,” Canales said. “I felt covered by him to be able to give me a heads-up on things that might come up so I can be focused on making the next call. Certainly, when we’re on the defensive side, then there’s more open dialogue with those things, but I lean on George.”

For Schottenheimer, that person is Ryan Feder, one of the holdovers from McCarthy’s staff. He was an assistant quarterbacks coach last year with game management responsibilities, but he carries the game management coordinator title under Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer called Feder a “trusted adviser.”

“I think he does it as well as anybody in the business. On game day, you need one voice that you’re hearing. Because obviously these things happen at critical and tense moments and things like that,” Schottenheimer said. “So to have that one voice be someone that you have complete confidence in and complete trust in, really does matter.”

Schottenheimer said he will listen to everybody — players, assistants, other head coaches — but that doesn’t mean he will always implement what he’s told.

“You talk to people all the time. I’ve been thinking about this really my whole life as a professional, what I wanted to do,” Schottenheimer said. “But there’s things that come up every day and I kind of wish my dad was still here — I’d reach out to him. But you know, the coaches around the league, spending time with those guys at the league meetings, they were great. They’ve all been first-time head coaches.

Brian Schottenheimer’s culture & connections mean 0 until it all goes to hell – Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s ‘wins’ this offseason must translate to wins in the fall.

It applies to Brian Schottenheimer, who is 51; at 51, Schottenheimer is not a young NFL head coach. The average age of the NFL head coach in 2025 is 48, the lowest it’s been in 25 years.

But at 51, Schottenheimer is a head coach for the first time in his life.

“The landscape of coaching is changing, where a lot more younger coaches are getting opportunities to coach, because I think it’s about that connection,” Ryans said in an interview before he was formally inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame last month at AT&T Stadium.

Brian Schottenheimer’s ‘culture shock’

Since Schottenheimer was named the new head coach of the Cowboys in January, much has been said and written about his ability to “connect” with the players in an effort to build a “culture” he seeks.

He put a ping-pong table in the middle of the Cowboys locker room at The Star in Frisco. These sorts of toys are not uncommon in pro sports locker rooms; the Texas Rangers had one for several years until someone in management had it removed because they didn’t think a playing a game is serious enough for a profession that is ultimately a game.

Schottenheimer recently had the team’s quarterbacks, with their families, partake in a lesson where they learned Greek line dancing.

Over the weekend, a video of defensive end Micah Parsons calling Schottenheimer to “say goodnight” went viral on social media. The head coach wasn’t thrilled that the video was leaked by the player himself on his TikTok account, but at least it shows Schottenheimer has a relationship with his most talented player, who is currently in a contract holdout of sorts.

Cowboys’ Micah Parsons on latest contract talk, if he will attend training camp without new deal – Jon Machota, The Athletic

Micah Parsons spoke about almost everything during his media availability on Tuesday.

At one point, Parsons spent roughly 30 minutes talking with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. According to the four-time Pro Bowler, his contract situation was never discussed.

The conversation was more about Parsons’ offseason, his training, travel and Jones’ appreciation for Parsons showing leadership by being at The Star on Tuesday.

“I’m pretty hopeful,” Parsons said of getting a new contract before training camp starts in late July. “I understand that it’s up to (Jones). He gives the green light on everything. Hopefully something is done by next month.”

For that to happen, Jones and Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, have to communicate. That has not yet happened. Parsons believes Jones is the one who needs to make that call.

“That’s what it kind of comes down to,” Parsons said. “He gives the green light. He’s the owner. He’s pretty much what it takes to get anything done anywhere around here. It’s up to him.

“But I’m going to still keep playing football. I’m going to keep showing up and preparing like any other year.”

Why can’t the call come from Parsons?

“Nah,” he responded. “Next question.”

Parsons is in the final year of his rookie contract. His next deal is expected to make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive end. Cleveland’s Myles Garrett currently holds that title after signing a four-year, $160 million extension in March. Other top pass rushers seeking new deals, like Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt and Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson, did not attend their minicamps on Tuesday.

“Some people like to take their time more than others,” Parsons said. “You can’t rush the process. (Jones) wants the deal to go as cleanly as possible. I want the deal to go as cleanly as possible. It’s just about getting it done as cleanly and quickly as possible.”

Some early reports from yesterday’s minicamp: