The Dallas Cowboys are at a crossroads after the controversial, uninspiring promotion of Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Jerry Jones and the front office are preaching confidence in the veteran coach, and Schottenheimer has received support from around the NFL as well.
Fans aren't happy though, and recent comments from superstar linebacker Micah Parsons might make everyone even more upset.
Schottenheimer has been with the organization since 2022, just one fewer year than Parsons. Despite that, Parsons revealed that he's never had a one-on-one meeting with his new coach and needs to build a relationship with him. If the point of hiring Schottenheimer was continuity, how has he not communicated with his best player yet?
Micah Parsons told @SportsDayDFW he’s spoken to new DC Matt Eberflus. On Brian Schottenheimer: “We just got to build relationships. I never had a one on one with Shotty or nothing like that, so building relationships is important.”
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) February 6, 2025
Micah Parsons Says He Needs to Build Relationship With Brian Schottenheimer
In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Parsons mentioned that he'd spoken with new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Regarding Schottenheimer though, Parsons had something different to say.
"We just got to build relationships," Parsons said. "I never had a one-on-one with Schotty or nothing like that, so building relationships is important."
On one hand, there was little reason previously for the two to interact. Schottenheimer was a coaching analyst in 2022 before taking the offensive coordinator job, and Parsons obviously plays defense. That said, there's no excuse for Schottenheimer not to have held a meeting with Parsons yet, especially given that Eberflus already talked to him.
This is your franchise centerpiece who happens to expect a mammoth contract extension soon. Parsons generally sounds committed to Dallas, yet it's a bad look for a new coach whose calling card was familiarity to not have any relationship with Parsons of all players.
There's plenty of time for the Cowboys to turn things around and get back to the playoffs. The roster has many of the same players that won 12 games in 2023, but the entire franchise is going in the wrong direction.
For the sake of the fanbase, Schottenheimer needs to start developing these relationships quickly. Otherwise, the boo birds will grow louder and Dallas will be back at square one yet again.