This is how the Dallas Cowboys head coaches have fared in their first year
Only four coaches in Cowboys history have had a winning record in their first year at the helm, and Brian Schottenheimer wants to be one of them.
The 2025 NFL season marks a fresh chapter for the Dallas Cowboys, as Brian Schottenheimer steps into the spotlight as the team’s new head coach.
After serving two years as offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy, Schottenheimer now takes the reins of “America’s Team” with a daunting debut: a Week 1 showdown against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Schottenheimer becomes the 10th head coach in franchise history, which dates back to 1960. Of the nine before him, only four managed winning records in their first season. Now, the son of legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer is aiming to join that elite group and carve out his own legacy in Dallas.
A rocky start is nothing new for the Cowboys
The Cowboys’ inaugural NFL season in 1960 was nothing short of disastrous. Under founding head coach Tom Landry, Dallas failed to win a single game, finishing 0-11-1 in a 12-game campaign.
Their first victory came in 1961 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the rough start, Landry went on to coach the team for 28 years, famously sporting his signature fedora on the sidelines, and led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl titles (VI and XII) before being dismissed by new owner Jerry Jones in 1989.
Landry’s successor, Jimmy Johnson, didn’t fare much better in his first year. The Cowboys posted a 1-15 record in 1989—the same year Jones took over ownership. But Johnson quickly turned things around, winning two Super Bowls in five seasons and finishing with a 44-36 regular-season record and a dominant 7-1 mark in the playoffs.
Garrett and McCarthy: far from dream starts
The last two head coaches, Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy, both stumbled out of the gate.
Garrett took over midway through the 2010 season after Wade Phillips was fired, and in his first full year (2011), the Cowboys finished 8-8, missing the playoffs.
McCarthy arrived in 2020, but the team was plagued by injuries—most notably the season-ending loss of Dak Prescott—and limped to a 6-10 record.
Neither coach delivered the kind of debut fans had hoped for, and both struggled to establish early momentum.
The Campo years: Dallas hits a new low
The early 2000s were especially bleak under Dave Campo, who served as head coach from 2000 to 2002. Despite having Troy Aikman for one final season in 2000, the Cowboys posted a 5-11 record in each of Campo’s three years. It remains one of the darkest stretches in franchise history.
Wade Phillips: a rare bright spot
Not all debuts have been disappointing. Wade Phillips, son of legendary coach Bum Phillips, delivered one of the best first seasons in Cowboys history.
In 2007, Phillips led Dallas to a 13-3 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a trip to the Divisional Round.
Though his tenure lasted just three and a half seasons, that first year remains a high-water mark for rookie head coaches in Dallas.
Bill Parcells: The comeback architect
After three consecutive 5-11 seasons under Dave Campo, the Cowboys turned to Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells in 2003. Known for his no-nonsense style and defensive brilliance, Parcells immediately injected discipline and structure into the team. In his debut season, Dallas finished 10-6 and returned to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Though he never won a postseason game with the Cowboys, Parcells laid the groundwork for future success and helped develop key players like Tony Romo.
Barry Switzer: The last Super Bowl champion
Barry Switzer inherited a powerhouse roster from Jimmy Johnson in 1994, including the legendary “Triplets”—Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. In his first season, Switzer led Dallas to a 12-4 record and reached the NFC Championship Game. The following year, he delivered the franchise’s fifth and most recent Super Bowl title in 1995. Though his tenure lasted only four seasons, Switzer remains the last Cowboys coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Chan Gailey: The end of an era
Chan Gailey took over in 1998 during the twilight of the Triplets era. Despite the aging core, Gailey managed a 10-6 record in his first season and reached the playoffs. However, both of his postseason appearances ended in Wild Card exits, and he was let go after just two years. Gailey’s time in Dallas is often remembered as the bridge between the dynasty years and the rebuilding phase that followed.
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