Emmitt Smith Shares Disappointment Over Cowboys Choosing Brian Schottenheimer Over Deion Sanders
Earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys caused a stir by hiring Brian Schottenheimer, their former offensive coordinator, as the next head coach. Schottenheimer replaces Mike McCarthy, who left the team after a tough 2024-25 season marked by injuries, contract issues, and overall instability.
One name frequently mentioned in media speculation about the Cowboys’ coaching search was Deion Sanders, the head coach at Colorado and a former Dallas star. Recently, Cowboys icon Emmitt Smith shared his admiration for Sanders and his achievements in coaching.
“I know Deion has done an amazing job at Colorado with limited resources, and unfortunately, that’s often the case for African American coaches—we start with less and do the best we can,” Smith said, according to DJ Siddiqi of Sports Lens. “Deion has proven he can manage and build a team even under tough conditions. He did it at Jackson State, he’s doing it at Colorado, and he’s bringing in Hall of Fame players to help. The game has changed, and Deion knows how to connect with younger players.”
Smith also expressed his frustration over Cowboys owner Jerry Jones not pursuing Sanders more aggressively.
“It’s disappointing that he wasn’t seriously considered for the role,” Smith continued. “But sometimes, these things take time to unfold.”
Did the Cowboys make the right choice?
In the aftermath of the Cowboys’ decision, many felt that the team played it safe by hiring Schottenheimer, promoting the mind behind their top offense in 2022 and 2023, yet likely keeping things similar to McCarthy’s tenure.
Deion Sanders would have undoubtedly brought even more attention to the already high-profile Cowboys franchise. Having proven himself as a capable head coach at Colorado, Sanders demonstrated that he can walk the walk in addition to talking the talk.
For now, the Cowboys shift focus to the upcoming NFL Draft, set for April.
