Hold up, did you see Jeremy Fowler’s report from ESPN? NFL executives just dropped a bomb, picking Brian Schottenheimer to win the 2026 NFL Coach of the Year award. Yeah, you read that right, the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator could be taking home some serious hardware!
From “Desired” to “Desired Award”?
Last season was Schottenheimer’s first year coaching the Dallas team, and hey, we all know how those first seasons can go. They ended up 7-9, falling short of the playoffs, and let’s be real, the offense definitely left a lot to be desired. No sugarcoating that. But this year? Fowler, citing these execs, says 2026 could be a totally different story, a breakout year for Schottenheimer. While it was a tight race and all the finalists got votes, the big takeaway is he got the *most* votes. That’s a huge vote of confidence when you consider the competition. It tells you something good, right?
The Scoop Behind the Scenes
So what’s the deal? Why are execs suddenly seeing Schottenheimer as the guy? Fowler’s report dug into it, calling him a “wild card” but someone who has “acquitted himself well in Dallas behind the scenes and has most of what he needs to win.” That’s high praise. And an NFC scout backed it up, saying “I think Dak [Prescott] will have a big year; we know they can score; and the defense should be much improved.” The key, as always, is health. That scout stressed, “If they stay healthy, they have a good chance to win the NFC East.” You can almost hear the hope getting louder in Dallas, and honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all.
This isn’t some random blogger’s take; these are NFL execs weighing in. Schottenheimer, the same guy whose offense left something on the table last year, is now seen as a Coach of the Year candidate for 2026. If these predictions hold up, and Dak Prescott truly has a big year with an improved defense, then the NFC East race just got a whole lot more interesting. Get ready, because the season ahead for Dallas just got a serious shot of unexpected hype.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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