The Dallas Cowboys royally botched the first two weeks of their offseason. Even though hiring Brian Schottenheimer does not move the needle whatsoever, it falls way down the pecking order.
It all started with waiting a week to make a decision on Mike McCarthy. The team missed out on myriad coveted head coaching candidates and also let the contracts of its entire coaching staff expire.
That backfired almost instantly as special teams coordinator John Fassel left to take the same position with the Tennessee Titans. Fassel took assistant ST coach Rayna Stewart with him. Further, wide receivers coach Robert Prince is now the Dolphins' receivers coach.
Fassell is arguably the best special teams coordinator in the NFL. The Cowboys wouldn't have Brandon Aubrey or KaVantae Turpin if not for Fassel's scouting and he's helped mold both players into two of the best players at their respective positions.
While Fassel's departure stings, the Cowboys endured a greater loss in the build up to announcing Schottenheimer as head coach on Friday night.
Cowboys lose defensive backs coach Al Harris while preparing Brian Schottenheimer announcement
According to Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' team website, defensive backs coach Al Harris has left to become the Chicago Bears' defensive passing game coordinator.
A former Pro Bowl cornerback, Harris is regarded as a rising star in the coaching ranks. It took a long time for Cowboys fans to recognize his brilliance, but he was without question the most valuable assistant on Mike McCarthy's staff throughout his five-year tenure.
Harris served as defensive backs coach from 2020 to 2023 and was promoted to assistant head coach alongside McCarthy this past season as teams, including Dan Quinn's Commanders, sought to poach him from Dallas.
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Harris' body of work is so respected that many Cowboys fans wanted the team to promote him to defensive coordinator. While he is seemingly on that trajectory, it is far too early in his coaching career. Becoming a passing game coordinator is another big step, but he needs to call plays first, likely at the college level, before making the DC leap.
It is impossible to give Harris all the credit for the play of Dallas' defensive backs in recent seasons. The team's scouts and obviously the players deserve a huge share of the credit pie. However, it is no coincidence that DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs morphed into ball-hawking All-Pros under Harris' tutelage.
Harris is one of the best in the business and his departure is arguably the Cowboys' most significant loss of the offseason thus far. He is going to absolutely crush it in the Windy City.
What stings even more? He was poached by Ben Johnson, whom Dallas didn't even bother to interview even though he was the most desired candidate in this year's coaching pool. So not only did Jerry Jones not talk to Johnson regarding their HC opening, but Johnson appreciated some of Jones' staff so much that he stole the team's most valuable assistant.
In case you needed any more evidence that the Cowboys are one of the worst-run organizations in the league.