The Dallas Cowboys capped a disappointing season with a 7-9-1 record and a second straight year out of the playoffs, team executives said Wednesday as they reflected on the year and looked ahead to 2026.
Owner Jerry Jones, executive vice president Stephen Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke at a postseason news conference, with Jerry Jones calling the outcome “frustrating” but saying he remains optimistic about the franchise’s direction.
"We'll start off by saying that Brian (Schottenheimer) is one of the reasons for our fans to be excited about our future and his first year. And if there would be a definition of how you would like to come in and your first time is being a head coach in the National Football League, and have a nice learning experience," said Jones. "I think that you could say that he's experienced things that will, in my mind, make him better qualified to be the head coach in the coming years than he was when we hired him this time last year."
Jones pointed to several reasons for confidence, beginning with Schottenheimer, who completed his first season as head coach. Jones said Schottenheimer navigated significant adversity while keeping the team focused and showing growth as a play-caller. He added that the challenges of 2025 would make Schottenheimer a stronger coach moving forward.
Jones also praised quarterback Dak Prescott, calling him one of the league’s top performers this season and saying he played at an elite level, noting he likely would have been in the MVP conversation had Dallas reached the postseason.
The team’s offensive staff was also highlighted, including offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, whose work in the run game Jones said helped elevate the offense.
Jones said the organization remains confident it can find a strong replacement at defensive coordinator following the departure of Matt Eberflus.
Despite the setback, team leadership said the foundation is in place for improvement next season.
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