Most Dallas Cowboys fans aren't pointing the finger at Brian Schottenheimer following a 6-9-1 finish in his first season as head coach. However, time may already be an enemy sooner than he thought.
It would be unfair to hang arguably the worst defense in Cowboys history on Schottenheimer. Matt Eberflus was Jerry Jones’ hire. This time, though, Jones stepped back and allowed Schottenheimer to bring in Christian Parker, a move that sets the stage for a far smoother Year 2.
However, Fox Sports reporter Ralph Vacchiano was not convinced by Schottenheimer's first season. Schottenheimer checked in at No. 10 on Vacchiano's head coach hot seat rankings for 2026.
"If the Cowboys don’t get back to the playoffs next season, are we sure Jones won't make a change?" Vacchiano wrote. "He’s going to be 83 later this year. He’s convinced he’s got a Super Bowl contender. And a ready-to-win Cowboys team might be the one opportunity that could lure Mike Tomlin back to the sidelines for 2027."
⬇️ @RalphVacchiano gives his early rankings of which coaches will be on the hottest seats heading into the 2026 season.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 12, 2026
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer absolutely is not on the hot seat
Let’s be real: Schottenheimer isn’t on the hot seat. Yes, the Cowboys fell short of the playoffs, but Dak Prescott just had arguably the best year of his career in Schottenheimer's first year calling plays. His offense is one of the more innovative in the league.
Schottenheimer being on the hot seat isn’t an indictment of his first season, but 2026 will undeniably be a prove-it year. The franchise-record 511 points allowed on defense weren’t his doing. With a full reset on defense coming, Schottenheimer is well-positioned to steady the ship.
After averaging 391.9 yards per game, which was second in the NFL, it’s fair to say that Schottenheimer passed the test. His situational play-calling has to get better, but again, it was his first year calling plays with this personnel.
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Dan Quinn checked in at No. 8 on Vachiano's rankings, but it’s only fair to note that his quarterback, Jayden Daniels, battled multiple injuries. The Commanders had so many other flaws that they probably would have struggled even if Daniels stayed healthy. Regardless, Quinn is under serious pressure to steer Washington back to relevancy.
Cowboys fans will be pleased to see Nick Sirianni at No. 2. If the Eagles endure a flameout similar to 2025 and 2023, owner Jeffrey Lurie might pull the plug.
Sirianni and Quinn deserve to be on the hot seat, given their respective teams fell well short of expectations. Schottenheimer's inclusion feels more like a projection.
Projecting that Schottenheimer could be on the hot seat if Dallas underachieves in 2026 doesn't mean he's on the hot seat. If there aren't 10 coaches on the hot seat, then a top 10 isn't necessary.