The Dallas Cowboys have hired Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach to replace Mike McCarthy, and one famous Cowboys alumnus is not happy with the decision.
Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin video published on his YouTube channel, Lament their decision to hire someone who was already on staff instead of Irvin’s first choice of Deion Sanders, another Cowboys alum.
“Here’s my problem. We lost an opportunity here. I don’t know what happened with Coach Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, but Jerry [Jones, team owner and GM] is a shrewd and astute businessman, and this opportunity I’m shocked he didn’t see. I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the next head coach, and I’m still ten toes over that push.
“Let me break it down. We have two NFC East teams in the NFC Championship game played tomorrow. All eyes on them. Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. Our enemies on all fronts. And they are in a position that we have not held in 30 years. Longest drought by any NFC East team. 30 years old. …you bring in someone who’s already inside for the head coach. You lose things there that you can’t get back which worries me.
“We’re losing ground in the NFC. … It was time to bring someone in here who could shake things up and capture this final leg of Cowboys Nation. If we’re 30 right now, and the hope of life is 100 Years, that means by math, a third of Cowboys Nation has never felt or experienced the glory of a championship story.
“Even worse, this generation has seen the total domination of a team named the Kansas City Chiefs. Who, in this span, are winning three in a row. So not only are you losing football games here and opportunities here and divisions here you are about to have our nickname ripped off our backs.
The nickname Irvin is talking about is America’s Team America, which the Cowboys earned in the 1990s during their last run of success.
Irvin outlined his issues with hiring someone from the inside, focusing on what he believes are team discipline issues.
“I know what we needed,” Irvin said. “They don’t have a curfew. They have no discipline. We finished fourth in penalties this year. So how do you fix yourself? …How do you do that when you come from the inside?
Sanders found success as a college coach at Colorado, where he has been for two seasons, coaching his son, QB Shadeur Sanders, Heisman winner Travis Hunter, and taking the Buffaloes to a bowl game. Early in the head coach hiring cycle, Sanders expressed interest in the Las Vegas Raiders opening, but nothing came of that (the Raiders recently hired Pete Carroll as their new head coach ).
Jones reportedly spoke to Sanders about the Cowboys head coaching job several weeks ago, but it appears Jones has decided to take a different path, much to Irvin’s annoyance.
