The Dallas Cowboys have flooded social media with criticism of the franchise's decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach.
It was announced Friday night that owner Jerry Jones had tapped the offensive coordinator to replace Mike McCarthy in what will be his first head coaching job in the NFL.
Schottenheimer, 51, son of the late NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, joined Dallas' staff as a consultant in 2022 and held the offensive coordinator title the past two seasons while McCarthy called the plays.
McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways earlier this month after his initial five-year contract with the club expired. He then interviewed with Chicago, but the Bears hired Ben Johnson.
In what is being described as a boring decision, Cowboys fans are venting their fury on social media.
One commented: “The franchise waited until 10pm to make this announcement because it's a joke.”
Dallas Cowboys hire Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach
Offensive coordinator has been chosen by Jerry Jones to replace Mike McCarthy
Another wrote: “Literally the worst head coaching hire I've ever seen… He didn't even call plays last season and got a job where he has to create a game plan on both sides of the ball…”
A third posted: “This is the moment I could get my fanbase back.”
'What are we doing here?' asked another. He's 51, hasn't appeared as an HC in years, and is under contract? This team is not serious.
One fan added: “Lifelong fan, you have alienated me to the point that I no longer have interest in the performance of this team.” Don't you care about winning? Now neither do I.
The fury continued with another statement: “My God… they would have been better off sticking with Mike McCarthy if this was the best they could do.”
One passionate fan declared it a “despicable decision” and vowed to “boycott this organization after 40 years.”
The Cowboys interviewed Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, and had a conversation with Colorado's Deion Sanders.
“Brian Schottenheimer is known as a career assistant,” Jones said in announcing the deal. It's not Brian anymore. He is now known as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Schottenheimer has been at the helm of the Dak Prescott-led offense in recent seasons
Tom Brady shakes hands with Schottenheimer before their game against the Cleveland Browns
This leaves only one head coaching vacancy in the NFL: the New Orleans Saints.
Schottenheimer will be officially introduced as the Cowboys' head coach on Monday.
Reports suggest he has already begun building his coaching staff in Dallas with fired Bears coach Matt Eberflus the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator job.
While many other teams are hiring interesting names to lead their franchise, fans have criticized Jones and the Cowboys since the ties to Schottenheimer surfaced.
Fox's Colin Cowherd even claimed that controversial owner Jones is “lost at sea.”
In a three-minute monologue on his show, Cowherd said: 'We are witnessing the fall of a great American institution. He's not even interviewing for other jobs.
“I've never been a head coach, I've never been a top candidate for a head coach. He's bounced around the league, dad was a legend… good guy, but 7-10 football teams don't leave a coach and then they hire the offensive coordinator who doesn't call the plays.'
Schottenheimer has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career, starting as an assistant in 1997 with the St Louis Rams.
He's been an OC with the Jets, Rams, Seahawks and Cowboys, and in college with Georgia, while also moving down to become a quarterbacks coach with the Colts and Redskins.
His father, Marty, is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame, won the 2004 NFL Coach of the Year award with the Chargers and spent nine years in charge at Arrowhead.