Mike McCarthy Reflects on Cowboys Tenure, Praises Brian Schottenheimer

Former Cowboys head coach shares thoughts on his time in Dallas and the rise of current Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:14am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the interaction between two football coaches, with sharp planes of color and form representing the strategic nature of their profession.A cubist interpretation of the coaching relationship between Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer, highlighting their mentorship and the transition of power within the Dallas Cowboys organization.Frisco Today

In an interview at the NFL Owners Meetings, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy shared his reflections on his time leading the team and praised the work of current Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer. McCarthy, who is now the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, discussed how he brought Schottenheimer to Dallas as an analyst in 2022 to help the team's defense, which he says 'springboarded' Schottenheimer back into a head coaching role. Schottenheimer also credited McCarthy for his mentorship and the impact McCarthy has had on his coaching career dating back to their time together with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Why it matters

This story provides insight into the coaching relationships and transitions within the Dallas Cowboys organization, highlighting how McCarthy's guidance helped set up Schottenheimer for his current head coaching role. It also offers McCarthy's reflections on his own tenure in Dallas, which was marked by the challenges of the pandemic year but ultimately saw the team head in a positive direction before his departure.

The details

In 2022, McCarthy hired Brian Schottenheimer as an analyst on the Cowboys' staff to help defensive coordinator Dan Quinn plan for opposing offenses. McCarthy said the role was a 'reset' for Schottenheimer after a difficult season as the Jacksonville Jaguars' passing game coordinator in 2021. McCarthy praised Schottenheimer's work in the analyst role, saying he was a 'tremendous asset' who provided great input to Quinn. Schottenheimer, who is now the Cowboys' head coach, credited McCarthy for the major impact he's had on Schottenheimer's coaching career dating back to their time together with the Kansas City Chiefs in the late 1990s.

  • In 2022, McCarthy hired Schottenheimer as an analyst on the Cowboys' staff.
  • Schottenheimer is now in his second year as the Cowboys' head coach.

The players

Mike McCarthy

The former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys who is now the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brian Schottenheimer

The current head coach of the Dallas Cowboys who previously worked as an analyst on McCarthy's Cowboys staff in 2022.

Dan Quinn

The defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.

Marty Schottenheimer

Brian Schottenheimer's father, who was a longtime NFL head coach and served as Mike McCarthy's mentor early in McCarthy's coaching career.

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, whom McCarthy says he misses working with.

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What they’re saying

“He just needed a reset for his family, frankly I had just went through the same thing in '19. I thought it was really good for him, personally, really good for his family, and look what it did. It springboarded him right back in as an offensive coordinator, I thought he did a great job for us, and so well deserving of his opportunity in Dalals. If there's ever been a guy that's ready, it's definitely Brian Schottenheimer.”

— Mike McCarthy, Former Cowboys Head Coach

“Everything that I learned from quarterback play, quarterback fundamentals, decision making, its all Mike McCarthy and it gets passed down from Bill Walsh to Paul Hackett. Paul Hackett to Mike McCarthy. Now myself down to Steve Shimko, people like that. I owe a ton of this business to Mike.”

— Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys Head Coach

What’s next

It will be interesting to see if and when Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer face off as head coaches on opposite NFL sidelines in the future.

The takeaway

This story highlights the coaching mentorship and transitions within the Dallas Cowboys organization, showcasing how McCarthy's guidance helped set up Schottenheimer for his current head coaching role. It also provides McCarthy's reflections on his own tenure in Dallas, which was marked by challenges but ultimately saw the team head in a positive direction.