Cowboys OC Brian Schottenheimer gives blunt truth on why today’s rookie minicamps are unlike anything before

Dallas Cowboys' new head coach Brian Schottenheimer is set to lead the team back to being competitive after a poor 7-10 record in the 2024 NFL season. The front office moved on from Mike McCarthy and elevated Schottenheimer from offensive coordinator.

Just like Schottenheimer, many players will participate in their rookie seasons. The 18 rookie draft picks and undrafted free agents arrived in Frisco to start the Cowboys' rookie mini camp on Friday. He will have many pieces to help Dak Prescott and Co. compete for a Super Bowl

Speaking with reporters, Schottenheimer talked about how the newcomers can make an impact when they aren't practicing full strength or going against the veterans.

The new coach said it has more to do with their off-field behavior than what they can show at practice.

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“It’s hard. It’s in the meeting room. It’s (asking) good questions. … We’re not gonna get to full speed a whole lot today. … It’s definitely a different era of football.”

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Despite being linked with other high-profile coaches such as Deion Sanders, Pete Carroll and more, the Cowboys decided to find the solution to their issues within the franchise. Schottenheimer became the offensive coordinator in 2023, replacing Kellen Moore, who left to join the LA Chargers.

This will be his first experience as a head coach, but he doesn't seem to be losing sleep over the new expectations. He also talked about people changing after getting a new job, which he vowed to avoid now that he's in charge of one of the most iconic NFL franchises of all time.

“I promised myself when I got this opportunity that I wouldn’t change. Because I think I’ve seen too many people change. The guys I’ve seen change, they weren’t very successful. And I plan on being really successful.”

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Dallas Cowboys' full list of 2025 draft picks

Brian Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys had a busy 2025 NFL draft. They picked nine players in total to bolster their ranks ahead of next season.

Tyler Booker, Round 1, pick 12
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Round 2, pick 44
Shavon Revel, Round 3, pick 76
Jaydon Blue, Round 5, pick 149
Shemar James, Round 5, pick 152
Ajani Cornelius, Round 6, pick 204
Jay Toia, Round 6, pick 217
Phil Mafah, Round 7, pick 239
Tommy Akingbesote Round 7, pick 247

After free agency and the draft, many fans were unhappy about the Cowboys' decisions. These players will have a lot of eyes on them, as Dallas hasn't won a Super Bowl in 30 years.

About the author

Orlando Silva joined the Sportskeeda team in 2024 as a member of the NBA roster as an analyst. After completing his bachelor's in English studies in 2016, he decided to pursue a career in sports journalism. Being an avid fan of the NBA, Orlando has covered the league for five years now, with a big focus on trending stories, the latest rumors and reports.
He's expanded his area of expertise to the NFL, one of his biggest passion since discovering the competition in 2007.

Orlando is a huge fan of the San Antonio Spurs, and his favorite player of all time is Tim Duncan. Of course, Greg Popovich is his favorite coach of all time and Victor Wembanyama is already his favorite player in the league. In the NFL, he supports the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.

Besides being a writer, Orlando is also an entrepreneur while pursuing a music production career.

Know More

Dallas Cowboys Fans! Check out the latest Cowboys Schedule and dive into the Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Alvin Amansec