Who’s to blame for another disappointing Cowboys season?

Another season, another set of questions for the Dallas Cowboys. With playoff hopes all but dashed and a 6-7-1 record heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season, a familiar question emerges: who’s really responsible for another underwhelming season in Big D?

Offense, defense, ownership: The many faces of Dallas’ disappointment

Jerry Jones: The ultimate villain

As team owner and general manager, Jerry Jones has a hand in nearly every decision that shapes the franchise, including the defining decision to trade star defender Micah Parsons. Jones framed it as a necessary reset, but the defense never recovered from losing its most disruptive player, and the void showed up weekly.

Some argue that when things go wrong, it’s his show, his vision, and ultimately, his responsibility. He’s unapologetically stubborn on his roster, insisting the team “fits what we’re trying to do really well.” But when the results consistently fall short, it’s hard not to wonder if his long-term plans are failing in real time. When the owner is also the loudest voice in football decisions, the responsibility naturally flows upward, and even more so when big bets don’t pay off.

Why it might not be all on him: Jerry didn’t call plays or miss tackles, and some of the moves were defensible. The problem may be less any one decision and more the cumulative weight of them.

Brian Schottenheimer: The unsung architect?

Schottenheimer’s first season as head coach was never going to be judged lightly, and in some ways, he delivered more than expected. Offensively, the Cowboys were among the league’s most productive teams, finishing near the top in total yards and points per game. Quarterback Dak Prescott played some of his most consistent football under Schottenheimer’s watch. That alone earns Schottenheimer real credit in a transition year. But head coaches are ultimately judged on the whole operation, not just one side of the ball.

Why blame feels unfair: For a first-year head coach, Schottenheimer kept the offense elite and the locker room steady. If anything, this season may have shown he’s part of the solution, but still learning where the margins disappear at this level.

Matt Eberflus: The defensive headache

Dallas finished the season allowing around 30 points per game, among the worst marks in the NFL. Opposing quarterbacks repeatedly posted some of their best performances of the year against the Cowboys, and the defense rarely found consistency after the Micah Parsons trade. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus leaned heavily on zone coverages that were routinely exploited, and his reluctance to adjust or dial up pressure became a recurring criticism.

Even Jerry Jones publicly acknowledged how “telling” it was that quarterbacks thrived against Dallas, a rare moment of transparency that put Eberflus on notice.

Why he isn’t alone: The talent drop-off was real, especially without Parsons, and Eberflus wasn’t working with an elite unit. Still, scheme and adaptability make a difference, and this defense didn’t show enough of either.

Dak Prescott: The quarterback conundrum

Dak Prescott remains the easiest name to circle when things go wrong, and yet one of the most complicated. Statistically and contextually, Prescott had a strong 2025 season. He led a top-tier offense, handled protection issues, and often kept the Cowboys competitive even when the defense didn’t. By most measures, this was not a “Dak lost them the season” year.

That said, moments like the Vikings loss tell another story. Prescott admitted the offense didn’t have answers for pressure looks they knew were coming. Fair or not, franchise quarterbacks are measured by those moments, especially with a record-setting contract like Dak’s.

Why the blame isn’t justified: When your team scores close to 30 points per game and still loses regularly, the problem likely goes beyond than the quarterback.

So… who’s really to blame?

The annoying answer is...probably a little bit of everyone. Jerry Jones set the tone. Eberflus couldn’t stabilize the defense. Schottenheimer showed promise but still had growing pains as a first-year head coach. Prescott played well, but not perfectly.

The Cowboys didn’t collapse because of one catastrophic failure. They stalled because of familiar failures. And until that changes, the questions will keep coming, no matter who wears the headset or the star on their helmet. Blame is easy to assign in hindsight, but understanding the “why” behind the underperformance requires a more nuanced approach.

In the end, maybe the question isn’t just who’s to blame, but what systemic changes the Cowboys need to finally turn a corner and end this underachievement streak.

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