Brian Schottenheimer didn’t mince words when reflecting on the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 campaign – and he made one thing clear as the season closed: change is coming.
Speaking after the Cowboys’ season-ending loss to the New York Giants, the first-year head coach acknowledged the franchise fell well short of expectations and vowed to address the issues head-on.
“I’m disappointed, yeah, of course. Absolutely,” Schottenheimer said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “The question is why. We need to look and figure out why. I did not think that we would be 7-9-1. I didn’t think that we would be in the playoffs. I expected to be in the playoffs and competing for the Super Bowl.”
Dallas finished 7-9-1 and missed the postseason for the second straight year, a frustrating outcome capped by a 34-17 defeat to New York in the finale.
Schottenheimer made a serious promise to the Cowboys fans
The season was defined by inconsistency and defensive collapse, as the Cowboys surrendered 511 points – the most ever allowed by a Dallas defense and among the worst totals in the league.
Schottenheimer took responsibility for the shortcomings:
“We did not do that. That starts with me. And I understand that.”
But the coach struck a firmer tone when discussing the offseason ahead.
“But I can promise you this,” Schottenheimer added. “We’re gonna get to the bottom of it. We’re gonna work our asses off to figure it out. We’re gonna adjust and make changes that we need to do to help us get there.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Dak Prescott delivered one of the most productive statistical seasons of his career. Entering Week 18, Prescott led the NFL in passing yards and finished the year with 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Jones will begin evaluating changes to the coaching staff
Still, the offensive output couldn’t overcome defensive failures, and the season marked the first full-year losing record of Prescott’s career as a starter.
Now, the Cowboys face an offseason filled with difficult decisions. Owner Jerry Jones has acknowledged that the defensive coaching staff will be evaluated, while broader roster questions loom across the organization. No formal timeline has been set, but urgency surrounds every move.
As Schottenheimer heads into his first full offseason at the helm, the message from Dallas is unmistakable: accountability is expected, adjustments are coming, and the pressure to return to contention in 2026 is already mounting.
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