The Dallas Cowboys are seemingly on the doorstep of announcing Brian Schottenheimer as their next head coach. Apathetic and dejected are perhaps the only words necessary to describe how Cowboys fans feel about the decision.
Things really came together on Wednesday when Schottenheimer was asked back for a second interview after interviewing for four hours on Tuesday.
Reports claim that Dallas will make the announcement no later than Friday, while some of the candidates that interviewed have been told, or are not expecting, to receive a second interview. All signs point to Schottenheimer closing in on getting the job.
It's almost unfathomable an announcement hasn't been made. Schottenheimer interviewed for close to 10 hours between the last two days. During that process, the Cowboys have let other HC candidates, namely Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, take other jobs.
Well, they have now missed out on a dream defensive coordinator.
Cowboys miss out on Lou Anarumo as DC while interviewing Brian Schottenheimer for head coach
#Colts DC Lou Anarumo on what his standard will look like:
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) January 23, 2025
“I’m gonna be a truth teller. That will happen. And it’ll happen to all of them. I don’t care the number of years [they’ve been] in the league. Great players want to be coached. They want to know the truth.”
🎥: @Colts pic.twitter.com/RT49EriJnl
Lou Anarumo was made a scapegoat after the Bengals failed to make the playoffs. While Cincinnati's defense was a turnstile this season, their struggles are not an indictment on Anarumo as a defensive play-caller. The front office let a ton of talent out the door in free agency and failed to supplement those losses. Regression was inevitable. Sound familiar?
Anarumo received widespread interest as a defensive coordinator in the immediate aftermath of his firing. That tells you all you need to know about how he is perceived around the NFL.
READ MORE: Dak Prescott reveals feelings on Brian Schottenheimer as Cowboys' head coach
While the Cowboys interviewed Schottenheimer for 10 hours over the span of two days, the Indianapolis Colts hired Anarumo as their new defensive coordinator.
Anarumo has a long track record of success as a DC. In 2022, the Bengals ranked fifth in scoring defense and allowed the lowest completion rate (58.9%) against quarterbacks. During Cincinnati's run to the Super Bowl in 2021 Anarumo's unit allowed just 20.5 points per game in the playoffs against the Raiders, Titans, Chiefs and Rams.
While Schottenheimer hasn't crossed paths with Anarumo in his coaching career, the same can be said for Colts head coach Shane Steichen.
The Cowboys could have zeroed in on Anarumo if they expedited their interview process. Given how quickly the Schottenheimer buzz materialized, it stands to reason they circled Schotty as a possible Mike McCarthy replacement a long time ago. It didn't happen overnight.
Unless Kellen Moore told them no during his interview last Friday, it feels like Schottenheimer has been the guy from jump street.
It makes no sense that an announcement hasn't been made after nearly 10 hours of interviewing. While Jerry Jones makes up his mind, he is costing Schottenheimer the opportunity to build the strongest staff possible if he is ultimately their choice as head coach.