The Dallas Cowboys' offense was a juggernaut during the 2025 NFL season, and it will remain so with Brian Schottenheimer at the helm. Yes, talents like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Javonte Williams make his job easier, but Schottenheimer gets tons of credit as the unit's brainchild.
But with a league-worst defense, the Cowboys were thwarted from the playoffs. And as a result of that disappointment, most around the league and within the fanbase have fixated on Christian Parker and Dallas' defensive decisions this offseason. The sentiment is that the offense will be just fine.
And it is hard to imagine that it won't, even though fluctuation is natural, and this is a hard league to consistently win or have success in. But Schottenheimer and the Cowboys' offense may be unlocking something special this offseason in offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, and they know it.
Brian Schottenheimer praises Dallas Cowboys OC Klayton Adams
Schottenheimer spoke to reporters before Thursday's OTA practice, and he was asked what his biggest takeaway was from his first year as an NFL head coach. Dallas' leader answered the question but also took the opportunity to shout out Adams and pay him a massive compliment.
"Being the head coach matters. ... Right now, I've been in probably 50% of the offense and 50% of the defensive meetings. Why? Because I think I have to be the head coach," Schottenheimer laughed. "We talk a lot about Christian Parker in this room, but I cannot talk enough about Klayton Adams. This guy is absolutely kicking ass. He's so much more comfortable this year in his role. He reads my mind. ... Klayton Adams has proven it not only in year one, but he's even taken another step in year two."
Rookie head coaches face a lot of pressure. Oftentimes, they are so prolific calling plays on one side of the ball that they devote all of their attention to that aspect of the game in their first year. The idea is that they were hired for that reason, and they cannot quickly lose what got them there.
That can be a bit of a double-edged sword, though. Taking attention away from the other side of the ball, especially when you've wrongfully entrusted Matt Eberflus to keep the defense's head above the water, can create an organizational imbalance. See the Cowboys' results from last season.
Parker, a first-timer in his position as the defensive coordinator, will surely be drinking from a firehose in Year 1, even if he is supremely qualified for the job, and the hype for him is off the charts. Calling an NFL defense is a hard thing to do for someone who has never done it before.
Adams growing and being able to read Schottenheimer's mind, however, means that Dallas' head man can spend a bit more time getting Parker up to speed and helping a unit that desperately needs it. This all points to the Cowboys building something special for the 2026 NFL season.
Yes, the impact of a non-play-calling offensive coordinator can seem insignificant to most fans. But that is a gross oversimplification of what a coordinator does. They are heavily involved in gameplanning, personnel decisions, installs, and they can even be play-calling consultants in games.
Just imagine a situation where the Cowboys' offense isn't just a top-seven unit. They could realistically be a top-three offense, and perhaps the league's very best, given their immense talent, the Schottenheimer of it all, and a rapidly ascending Adams.
Dallas needs Adams to continue growing because the better the staff is, the better the Cowboys are, simply put. The less Schottenheimer needs to pigeonhole himself and allocate all his attention to one thing, the more beneficial that is for the roster.
Head coaches lead entire teams, even if they are an offensive play-caller like Schottenheimer. Having an extension of him in the offensive meeting room in Adams will be a blessing for America's Team, and based on what Schottenheimer said, he is growing exponentially. That can only be good news.
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