BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER

It’s been three weeks since Jerry Jones tapped Brian Schottenheimer as the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and the longtime assistant turned first-year NFL head coach has now completed his staff with coordinator and position coach hires.

A staff that mixes NFL and college experience on both sides of the ball, Schottenheimer’s staff will have a completely new feel than Mike McCarthy’s group in 2024, as only one assistant from the previous regime was retained.

Here is a look at the entire coaching staff and how each could benefit the Cowboys moving forward.

Offensive Coordinator: Klayton Adams

In 2024 — Arizona Cardinals OL coach

One thing has been emphasized by multiple people in the Cowboys’ building: they want to run the football. Whether it’s Dak Prescott, Brian Schottenheimer or Stephen Jones, that sentiment has echoed out of Frisco this offseason. While Adams obviously won’t be calling plays, his influence on the run game will be drastic. Coming from a Cardinals’ offensive line unit that allowed the third-least sacks in the NFL and accounted for the seventh-most rushing yards, Adams produced despite none of his offensive linemen getting chosen for the Pro Bowl. Creativity in the run game is expected to get a big boost with Adams helping to formulate the gameplan.

Defensive Coordinator: Matt Eberflus

In 2024 — Chicago Bears head coach

Not everyone is meant to be a head coach in the NFL, and Eberflus might be the latest example. However, his experience as a coordinator saw him post three seasons of top-10 scoring defense play in four years. His experience as a linebackers coach will add a key amount of knowledge to a young room while his maximization of the defensive tackle position and the defensive backfield could benefit guys like Osa Odighizuwa (if retained), Mazi Smith, DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs.

Special Teams Coordinator: Nick Sorensen

In 2024 — San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator

It’s not often that your special teams coordinator also has a healthy amount of defensive coordinator experience, but the Cowboys were able to find that in Sorensen. Stephen Jones emphasized the importance of having versatile coaches, just as they like versatile players in the draft process, and Sorensen certainly fits that mold. He will have his hands in multiple pots, but his varying experience will pave the way for innovation in multiple spots on the team.

Quarterbacks coach: Steve Shimko

In 2024 — Dallas Cowboys offensive assistant

Prior to joining Mike McCarthy’s staff in 2024, Shimko was the offensive coordinator for Boston College in 2023 where his offensive unit finished in the middle of the pack from a yardage perspective, but finished strong including an upset bowl win over SMU. Consistency has been proven to be the most important thing for Dak Prescott, and a familiar face as his position coach will play into that. Also expect Brian Schottenheimer to obviously have a heavy influence in the day-to-day operation of the quarterback room.

Running backs coach: Derrick Foster

In 2024 — New Orleans Saints RBs coach

The Cowboys swung and missed on a pair of college coaches for this position, but landing on Derrick Foster isn’t a bad consolation prize. Credited with the development and rise of Austin Ekeler when he was the running backs coach for the Chargers, maximizing receiving production out of the backfield will be something to watch, especially when you factor in his coaching of Alvin Kamara in New Orleans as well. The Cowboys obviously will need to draft a running back, and his track record in drafting players at the position hasn’t been strong (although it’s tough to say he was heavily involved in the decision process).

Wide receivers coach: Junior Adams

In 2024 — Oregon Ducks WRs coach/co-offensive coordinator

Landing a college coach with guys like Cooper Kupp, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and more on his resume is a big win for a young receiver room in need of quick development. Adams brings an offensive system from Oregon this past season that was responsible for the 17th-best scoring offense in the FBS last year.

Tight end coach: Lunda Wells

In 2024 — Dallas Cowboys TEs coach

The only position coach retained from the McCarthy staff, Wells will continue to build with a young tight end room that will be looking to get more out of Jake Ferguson after an injury-ridden 2024 campaign and Luke Schoonmaker who hasn’t lived up to his second round billing as of yet. Drafting a tight end is likely, and Wells’ experience has proven that he’s up to the task in the 2025 draft cycle.

Offensive line coach: Conor Riley

In 2024 — Kansas State OL coach/co-offensive coordinator

It’s hard to imagine a much better hire for the offensive line coach than Riley, who comes from Kansas State where he coached Cowboys center Cooper Beebe for his entire college career in Manhattan. If Beebe is the future of the offensive line in Dallas, having Riley back in his ear will only benefit his development after Riley turned him from a defensive line prospect into one of the best interior offensive linemen in college football. Klayton Adams is also expected to have a heavy influence in the offensive line room in the day-to-day operations.

Defensive line coach: Aaron Whitecotton

In 2024 — New York Jets DL coach

Whitecotton has gotten the most out of his pass rush in his time as the defensive line coach in New York, as he oversaw Will McDonald IV (10.5 sacks in 2024), Quinnen Williams (29.5 sacks from 2021 to 2024), Bryce Huff (10 sacks in 2023) and Quinton Jefferson (career-high six sacks in 2024) among others during his time with the Jets. There’s a high confidence in his ability to design creative pass rush plans for the Dallas personnel. Considering how much success he’s had with pass-rushing interior defensive linemen, bringing back Osa Odighizuwa just became that much more important.

Linebackers coach: Dave Borgonzi

In 2024 — Chicago Bears LBs coach

Borgonzi returns to Dallas where he was an assistant for three seasons from 2011 to 2013. He comes with Eberflus from Chicago to coach a young group led by Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown. Adding a veteran presence or bringing back Eric Kendricks might be critical to the linebacker room in 2025 with Borongzi overseeing the responsibilities. His linebackers typically are tackling machines with Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards each totaling more than 100 tackles each in each of the last two seasons.

Cornerbacks coach: David Overstreet II

In 2024 — Chicago Bears nickelbacks coach

A graduate of Dallas Samuell High School, Overstreet returns to his hometown to take on the task of coaching the cornerbacks for the Cowboys. During his time in Chicago, Overstreet could be credited with the development of Jaylon Johnson, although he specialized in helping with the nickel corners. Bears nickel Kyler Gordon had a career-high 76.0 coverage grade in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

Defensive pass game coordinator: Andre Curtis

In 2024 — Chicago Bears safeties coach

Another hire that comes from the Eberflus staff in Chicago, Curtis also has experience coaching alongside Schottenheimer in Seattle where he served in various roles for the Seahawks from 2015 to 2021. His room in Chicago mainly dealt with injuries to guys like Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson, but he was able to get a lot out of seasoned veteran Kevin Byard. One thing to note at the safety position is that Eberflus has experience with Cowboys safety Malik Hooker when the two were in Indianapolis.

Other notable hires — Ken Dorsey (pass game specialist), Tiquan Underwood (assistant WRs coach), Tanzel Smart (defensive assistant/quality control), J.J. Clark (defensive assistant)