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Brian Schottenheimer is the Cowboys 10th head coach. Can you name the first nine?

lawrence dow
·6 min read

The Dallas Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as their 10th head coach in franchise history and held an introductory press conference for him on Monday.

Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-88, posting a career 250-152-6 record.
Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-88, posting a career 250-152-6 record.

Tom Landry, (1960-1988)

Record: 250-152-6

Despite a winless start in his first Cowboys season (0-11-1 in 1960), Landry went on to become one of the most revered and successful coaches in NFL history. He ranks No. 5 in total victories and won Super Bowls VI and XII. Landry — after a 3-13 season — was fired in 1989 when Jerry Jones bought the team and hired Jimmy Johnson as head coach.

Landry coached the Cowboys for 29 seasons, the most consecutive number of seasons (tied with Curly Lambeau) anyone has coached an NFL team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1993.

A native Texan, Landry was known for his stoic sideline presence and fedora hat. He reamins the franchise’s leader in all-time wins and the only coach in team history with more than 100 career wins.

He only coached the Cowboys five seasons, but left with a 44-36 record and two Super Bowl championships.
He only coached the Cowboys five seasons, but left with a 44-36 record and two Super Bowl championships.

Jimmy Johnson, (1989-1993)

Record: 44-36

A former Arkansas Razorbacks teammate of Jerry Jones, he was the first head coach hired after Jones bought the team. Johnson went 8-24 in his first two seasons with the team, but in the 1991 season Johnson won 11 games and in the next three seasons, he led the Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl victories (XXVII and XXVIII.)

Johnson left the Cowboys due to differences with Jones over player personnel and comments the owner made in public downplaying his coaching abilities after winning his second straight Super Bowl.

Barry Switzer replaced Jimmy Johnson and went on to win a Super Bowl en route to a 40-24 record.
Barry Switzer replaced Jimmy Johnson and went on to win a Super Bowl en route to a 40-24 record.

Barry Switzer, (1994-1997)

Record: 40-24

Another former Razorback, he was a running backs coach while both Johnson and Jones were players. Switzer came from the University of Oklahoma where he had been head coach and won three national titles. Switzer had big expectations placed on him after replacing a repeat Super Bowl-winning coach in Johnson.

After losing the NFC Championship to the San Francisco 49ers in his inaugural season as head coach, Switzer rebounded the following year, with the Cowboys beating the Eagles and Packers on the way to a Super Bowl XXX win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chan Gailey lasted just two seasons with Cowboys, coaching them to an 18-14 record.
Chan Gailey lasted just two seasons with Cowboys, coaching them to an 18-14 record.

Chan Gailey, (1989-1999)

Record: 18-14

The shortest-tenured coach in team history, Gailey only lasted two seasons, and despite making the playoffs in both seasons was unable to return the Cowboys to the Super Bowl.

In Gailey’s first season, he swept the NFC East on his way to a 10-6 record but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Arizona Cardinals. The following season the team went 8-8 after a flurry of injuries to players, including wide receiver Michael Irvin, and the Cowboys lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season.

Dave Campo coached the Cowbiys for three seasons, from 200-02, and recorded a 15-33 record.
Dave Campo coached the Cowbiys for three seasons, from 200-02, and recorded a 15-33 record.

Dave Campo (2000-2002)

Record: 15-33

The only Cowboys head coach to ever have a losing record, Campo had been the team’s defensive coordinator since 1995 and started his tenure off with a 5-11 season, after which Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman retired.

Coach Bill Parcells could not duplicate the success he had with the New York Giants. In three seaosns, the Cowboys were 34-30.
Coach Bill Parcells could not duplicate the success he had with the New York Giants. In three seaosns, the Cowboys were 34-30.

Bill Parcells (2003-2006)

Record: 34-30

Parcells came to the Cowboys as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history after winning multiple Super Bowls with the New York Giants. The Cowboys had hoped he could return them to Super Bowl contention after three straight losing seasons.

Parcells introduced the idea of “earning the star,” saying only players who had made the team deserved to have the team’s iconic logo on their helmets.

On the field, the Cowboys went 10-6 in his first season as head coach before falling to the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs. The Cowboys didn’t win 10 games again during Parcells’ tenure and didn’t make the playoffs again until his final season in 2006. The Cowboys lost in Parcells’ last playoff game in the final moments on Tony Romo’s infamous botched hold on a field goal attempt.

Wade Phillips replaced Bill Parcells and won 13 games in his first season. The next three years were not as successful.
Wade Phillips replaced Bill Parcells and won 13 games in his first season. The next three years were not as successful.

Wade Phillips (2007-2010)

Record: 34-22

Phillips took over following the 2006 season after previously serving as the defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers.

Phillips’ first season was his most successful winning 13 games, but the top-seeded Cowboys were upset by the Giants in the playoffs. The Cowboys had already beaten the Giants twice that season and became the NFC’s first No. 1 seeded team since 1987 to lose in the divisional round.

The Cowboys missed the playoffs the following season after losing to the Eagles in a game to decide who won the division. The next season the Cowboys went 11-5 and won their first playoff game, beating the Eagles, in 13 years before losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round.

Jason Garrett coached the Cowboys for 10 seasons and posted a 85-67 record.
Jason Garrett coached the Cowboys for 10 seasons and posted a 85-67 record.

Jason Garrett (2010-2019)

Record: 85-67

The second longest-tenured coach in team history, Garrett took over after being offensive coordinator during Phillips’ tenure and previously played eight seasons for the team as a backup quarterback.

Garrett’s tenure started with three straight .500 seasons, each of which culminated with a regular season finale loss to an NFC East rival that knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs.

Garrett made the playoffs for the first time in the 2014 NFL season and after a win over the Detroit Lions in the opening round, the Cowboys lost to the Packers in the infamous ‘Dez Caught It,” game. The Cowboys made the postseason in two of the next four seasons but never advanced past the divisional round.

Garrett oversaw the transition between quarterbacks Tony Romo and Dak Prescott.

Mike McCarthy won 12 games three times during his four seasons in Dallas.
Mike McCarthy won 12 games three times during his four seasons in Dallas.

Mike McCarthy (2020-2024)

Record: 49-35

A Super Bowl champion from his time as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy was brought in with hopes his previous playoff success and quarterback expertise could help the Cowboys end their Super Bowl drought.

McCarthy suffered a losing season in his first year with the team, in part, due to Dak Prescott missing most of the season with a compound fracture in his ankle and a faulty defense that allowed the fifth most points per game in the NFL.

Over the next three seasons, McCarthy won 12 games and made the playoffs each but only won a single playoff game losing to the San Francisco 49ers twice and the Packers once. His lone playoff win came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McCarthy and the Cowboys couldn’t agree on terms for a new contract following an injury-plagued 2024 season where they went 7-10 and failed to make the playoffs.