The Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy after the 2024 season, which saw them finish with a record of 7-10 despite making the playoffs the year before.
Schottenheimer has been around the NFL for nearly 30 years, taking up a multitude of roles during his time. The 51-year-old has been in Dallas since 2022, initially starting off as a coaching analyst, before becoming the offsensive coordinator a year later.
Before his time with the Cowboys, Schottenheimer had worked with eight different NFL teams, again in various positions. After college, where he was the back-up quarterback during the Florida Gators' 1996 championship-winning year, he joined the St. Louis Rams (now Los Angeles Rams) as an assistant coach. A year later, he departed for the Kansas City Chiefs, taking up the same role.
After a couple of years in the college game, Schottenheimer returned to the NFL as a quarterbacks coach for five years for the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) in 2001, and San Diego Chargers (currently Los Angeles Chargers) from 2002 to 2005. The Denver, Colorado native has been in the NFL since 2016, after returning to college football for one year in 2015.
As the offensive coordinator in Dallas, his side ranked fifth in overall offence and first in scoring during the 2023 season, where the Cowboys went 12-5, finishing second in the NFC. Things took a considerable dip this season, as the Dallas offence were ranked 21st in scoring and 16th overall.
Schottenheimer's other notable roles as offensive coordinator came with the New York Jets (2006-11), Rams (2012-14) and Seattle Seahawks (2018-20).