Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has never shied away from theatrics (literally, he was an actor in a recent Landman episode), but his answer for why the team promoted Brian Schottenheimer to be the team’s new head coach might be one of the strangest, most riveting moments of his ownership tenure.
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Rather than just give a canned answer to why Schottenheimer was the right pick in his eyes, Jones delivered a fiery, teary response defending his entire time owning the Cowboys and essentially daring anyone to question his decision-making.
“If you don’t think I can’t operate out my comfort zone, you’re so wrong it’s unbelievable. This is as big a risk as you can take,” Jones said about promoting Schottenheimer. “[He has] no head coaching experience.”
Jones’ remarks start at the opening of the question period, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t rapt for the entire duration of his first answer.
Jones’ response sounds as if he’s pleading his case before the football gods to be let into NFL Valhalla for his time owning the team, hellbent on striking down any doubt about his ability to make sound decisions that lead to wins.
NFL analyst Gregg Rosenthal summed it up as well as anyone could.
if you liked Jerry Jones on Landman you'll love him introducting Brian Schottenheimer. a compelling brew of tearful recriminations, defensiveness, football history, pride, anger, love and lots of talk about daddy
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) January 27, 2025
From a thematic stand, Jones nailed it. From a logical standpoint of assuaging concerns from Cowboys fans that this was a rushed process that led to a questionable hire, there is no comfort to be found.
Jones sounds as defiant and desperate as ever to justify his decisions from atop the mount in Jerry World, and that feels destined steer this franchise into some absolutely bewildering directions. Whether those directions will be good and lead to franchise success … that’s a bit in the air.
No matter what, Jones sounds like he’s ready to go down swinging either way. Watching him make his case really is nothing short of remarkable.
Jerry Jones on hiring Brian Schottenheimer:
"If you don't think I can operate outside my comfort zone, you are so wrong. This (hiring Schottenheimer) is as big a risk as you can take. No head coaching experience."pic.twitter.com/hOUAw8mJ6H
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 27, 2025
