A Father’s Legacy: Brian Schottenheimer’s Journey
FRISCO — It’s not the first Father’s Day that Brian Schottenheimer is missing his dad, Marty, but not having him now hits a little different.
Brian enters his first year as a head coach of an NFL team, and for 20-plus years as an assistant coach he had his father around.
In 2021, Marty died of Alzheimer’s disease, something he battled for 10 years. Brian could always visit, talk or just hold his father’s hand.
A Lifelong Dream
Brian is now the head coach of the Cowboys, fulfilling a lifelong dream he can’t share with his father. It makes this Father’s Day a little more special.
“I know he’s proud,” Schottenheimer said, holding back tears when asked about his father. “I miss him. I would tell him that I used all the life lessons that he taught me, not just about football but about life and being a good man, a good husband and a good father and I think I’m doing OK for myself. I know he’s proud.”
A Legendary Coach
Marty Schottenheimer is a member of an exclusive club.
Marty was a head coach for 21 years with four NFL teams. He’s one of eight head coaches with 200 or more career victories. Five of those coaches are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including former Cowboys coach Tom Landry. The other two, Andy Reid and Bill Belichick, have nine Super Bowl titles between them.
Brian Schottenheimer knows the résumé better than anyone and uses the football knowledge he received from his father to this day. With his father gone, Schottenheimer speaks to people close to him.
Missing His Father
“I miss him like crazy,” Schottenheimer said of his father. “I actually lean on some of his friends now, guys like Bill Cowher. I know he coached with [in Kansas City]. But Father’s Day will be a special day. I’m a father of two amazing kids, and I talked to my mom and I know he’s looking down on me.”
Schottenheimer’s family doesn’t forget how special their father was, on and off the field. To honor their dad the family supports charitable organizations in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Brian’s sister, Kristen, participates in The Longest Day, part of the Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser to help pay for research into the disease.
Carrying On His Father’s Legacy
During the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats weekend, where players and coaches wear cleats to support their favorite charitable causes, Brian has the logo of the Alzheimer’s Association on his specialized footwear.
During his short time as head coach, Brian has mentioned his father numerous times, whether it’s how Marty would deal with players or practices. Brian said his father would never approve of music blasting at practice, something the Cowboys do.
Most of the things he’s doing as head coach, Brian wishes he could share with his father.
A Special Father’s Day
There are so many stories to tell. He wanted to tell him about his introductory news conference, which he figured would occur in the main conference room where the daily news conferences are held. That room holds an estimated 50 people. Instead, the news conference was held in the atrium, a much larger area.
“I was nervous and excited,” Schottenheimer said.
The new head coach calmed down after seeing several players waiting for him. It’s at that moment he knew things would be OK.
That scene is something Schottenheimer would like to relay to his dad.
Instead, he leans on his family, from his wife, two kids, mom and siblings.
So as he enters this quiet period of the offseason, he spends time with family on this Father’s Day thinking about his dad and all that he was taught.
Family and football, something he learned from his father.
“This has been, rightfully so, a long six or seven months,” he said. “So I’m going to spend some time with my son and my daughter and my wife. I won’t be too far away from my iPad and my phone. You have to do this. And our players have to do this. Family is important. When you’re hanging around the ones you love, that’s not just your family. That’s the guys in our inner circle. That’s the guys in the locker room.”
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Conclusion
Brian Schottenheimer’s journey as a head coach is not just about football, but about the lessons he learned from his father and the legacy he wants to carry on. As he celebrates his first Father’s Day as a head coach, he knows that his father is proud of him and that he is doing everything he can to make him proud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Brian Schottenheimer’s father?
A: Brian Schottenheimer’s father is Marty Schottenheimer, a legendary NFL coach who passed away in 2021.
Q: What is Brian Schottenheimer’s current role in the NFL?
A: Brian Schottenheimer is the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Q: How does Brian Schottenheimer honor his father’s legacy?
A: Brian Schottenheimer honors his father’s legacy by supporting charitable organizations in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and by carrying on his father’s coaching legacy.
Q: What is the significance of Father’s Day for Brian Schottenheimer?
A: Father’s Day is a special day for Brian Schottenheimer as it reminds him of his father and the lessons he learned from him. It’s also a day for him to spend time with his own family and reflect on the importance of family and football.
