FRISCO — In an end-of-season, late-morning team meeting on Monday, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer told his group about gratitude and the future.
Schottenheimer said his 7-9-1 team will be a playoff team in 2026.
Change must happen, with the personnel and the coaching staff, for that to occur.
Related
Cowboys
It could start with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who ran one of the worst defenses in franchise history in 2025. The Cowboys finished Eberflus’ first year on the job allowing an NFL-high 30.1 points per game and 6,409 yards, third-worst in the league. The Cowboys also gave up a franchise-record 511 points.
And another change might occur with special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen, who didn’t get the best of endorsements from the No. 2 man in the organization, co-owner Stephen Jones, during a radio interview late last week on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM).
Jones praised an offense that finished seventh in the NFL with a 27.7 scoring average. Jones said the offense had an identity, unlike the defense and special teams.
“Bottom line, we need an identity on the defensive side of the ball,” Jones said on The Fan. “I don’t think we established that this year. Whether it’s coach Eberflus or whoever it is, we have to create an identity. I think everybody would say that Coach Schottenheimer has a ton of energy, he’s very authentic and has an identity. We’ve got to play to that in all three phases. I think we did in one phase this year. I don’t know that we established that in the other two phases.”
Following the team meeting, players underwent exit interviews with Schottenheimer and members of the coaching staff and front office. Schottenheimer said he’ll meet with his coaches on Wednesday and Thursday.
“These guys work their asses off all year and they got great insight and great input for us,” Schottenheimer said after losing to the Giants in the regular-season finale on Sunday. “There is nothing out of bounds. They can say, ‘Hey you were the worst head coach I’ve ever seen in my life, I’ve ever been around.’ And that’s not going to hurt my feelings, it’s not. I want to know. I’m going to ask why, if they feel that way, so I can fix it.”
There is no timeline for potential coaching changes with the Cowboys staff.
With several NFL teams firing head coaches on what’s called Black Monday, it would seem beneficial to get started soon.
Eberflus’ status is at the top of the list and Schottenheimer was asked about the case to keep the defensive coordinator.
“The case is going to be the case that’s made when we look at all the stats,” he said. “We talk through the issues, we get through the exit interviews with the players and again I’ve said this many, many times, Flus is a really good defensive coach but we’re going to go through the process and that’s with everybody starting with myself. And [offensive coordinator] Klayton [Adams] and Nick and Flus and the players.”
Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland said the media was “just a little bit [too hard on Eberflus].”
“He had a lot of moving parts this year with what he got,” Bland said. “It’s hard when you have a plan and have to adjust so much. It’s a little bit different.”
Related
The Cowboys have missed the postseason the last two years, the first time that’s happened since the 2019-2020 campaigns.
For a longer postseason drought, there was a four-year stretch from 2010-2013.
Based on the team meetings and the expectations of team owner Jerry Jones, missing the postseason in 2026 isn’t acceptable.
Players’ futures get determined this spring, particularly with free agents such as wideout George Pickens, running back Javonte Williams and pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
Monday was about closing the 2025 season.
“Gratitude is a huge part of what we spoke about in our exit meetings as a team,” guard/tackle Tyler Smith said. “We spoke about gratitude for the year and we did a lot of great things, obviously, but it wasn’t great enough to get to where we wanted to be. Just continue to improve upon that this offseason and it’s all about winning, that’s what he told us.”
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.