Cowboys CeeDee Lamb Makes Brian Schottenheimer Statement

The Dallas Cowboys took ample heat a year ago when they fired coach Mike McCarthy. But it wasn’t so much the firing of McCarthy that was controversial–some felt they should have made that move a year earlier. Not, the heat came from the way the Cowboys hired his replacement, Brian Schottenheimer, in a promotion from offensive coordinator. Schottenheimer is the son of NFL great head coach Marty Schottenheimer, and had been around the game as a coach for three decades. But he hadn’t gotten much of a look for top jobs in the league over the years–the Cowboys stuck their necks out in giving him the job.

It’s worked out. Schottenheimer in Year 1 oversaw one of the best offenses in the NFL, a unit let down by the defense and coordinator Matt Eberflus–who was not really Schottenheimer’s choice to fill that role.

The things Schottenheimer could control, he did about as well as could be expected. Certainly, CeeDee Lamb took notice.

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CeeDee Lamb: ‘I Love Schotty’

Appearing on “The Ross Tucker Podcast” last week, Lamb sung the praises of Schottenheimer’s Year 1 performance–something that should excite Cowboys fans, especially now that there is a new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, of Schottenheimer’s choosing.

Said Lamb: “I love Schotty, he’s a team player, he’s a coach’s player, and obviously, he’s receiver-friendly. So, like, the offense is everything that a receiver wants. Obviously. If you see what Dak, GP and I did this year, we had a great year. And then we had Javonte just toting the ball this year, and that was amazing. It felt so real, you know? Overall as an offense, we had the togetherness. Mind you, our offensive line is extremely young.

“Our offensive core, I feel, is extremely young. I think Dak is the oldest on the offense now. So, for him to get everybody on board and understand what he’s trying to do here and us to really execute in Year 1, I feel I can’t really even put it into words. You just look at the numbers.”

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Cowboys Will Have High Expectations in Brian Schottenheimer’s Year 2

Lamb acknowledged just how many things went wrong for the Cowboys in Brian Schottenheimer’s first year. But the coach handled it: The play of the offense on the field as well as the team’s week-to-week outlook amid the shocking trade of defensive leader Micah Parsons, devastating injuries on the defensive side of the ball and the tragic suicide of Marshawn Kneeland.

It should be a smoother ride, Lamb hopes in the second year, as long as the Cowboys maintain last year’s outlook with a better 2026 roster.

“It didn’t matter what we were going through, it didn’t matter the week we had before, it didn’t matter if it was a short week—Schotty is always gonna bring that every day, he is gonna instill that energy within you,” Lamb said.

“You’re gonna have that belief. And as long as you trust his process and his regimen, I guarantee you’re gonna do what you gotta do. Just got to make sure we do it consistently, and do it often.”

 

 

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney