Head coach Brian Schottenheimer isn't lacking confidence in his Dallas Cowboys, saying he believes the team is good enough to make a run this year and secure its first Lombardi Trophy since the 1995 season.
"Very confident, I love our roster. I love the changes that we've made on defense, I love Dak's (Prescott) grasp of what we're doing offensively," Schottenheimer told reporters Thursday.
"I feel very, very confident that we're going to be in that game (Super Bowl) and win it."
Dallas promoted Schottenheimer from offensive coordinator to head coach ahead of the 2025 season after parting ways with Mike McCarthy. He previously served as the Jacksonville Jaguars' passing game coordinator before joining McCarthy's staff in 2022.
The Cowboys went 7-9-1 in Schottenheimer's first season as head coach, missing the playoffs for the second straight campaign. While Dallas' offense finished fifth in points per game, its defense allowed 30 or more points in nine of 17 regular-season contests. The struggling unit also ranked 31st in success rate and last in EPA/play.
Schottenheimer fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after just one season at the helm and replaced him with Christian Parker, who spent the last two years as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive backs coach. Parker was a key pillar in Vic Fangio's defense, helping cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean earn first-team All-Pro honors in 2025.
"You know, Christian Parker, man, it's just amazing to be around a guy who's won at a high everywhere he's been," Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams said this week, according to team writer Patrik Waler.
"And who's been around for a little minute on some great defenses with some great people, and just getting to learn from him in his philosophy. … From the defensive scheme, and the defensive mindset, he's extremely smart when it comes down to the defense of how he sees the game."
Dallas also boosted its defense this offseason by adding pass-rusher Rashan Gary and former Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs, whom the team traded up for in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys kick off their season against the New York Giants on Sept. 13.
