Cowboys legend tells Jerry Jones to replace Schottenheimer with this surprise pick

A Dallas Cowboys legend has publicly urged owner Jerry Jones to consider a surprising replacement for head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Former wide receiver Dez Bryant took to X on November 5, 2026, to make his preference clear.

“I’m just saying… if anything were to happen in Dallas…Jason Witten should be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys,” Bryant wrote.

“I can see it..and I’d love that.”

Bryant’s recommendation comes just one day after the Cowboys fell to 3-5 with a 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The defeat dropped Dallas to last place in the NFC East and intensified scrutiny on Schottenheimer’s play-calling.

Bryant is not the only Cowboys icon voicing concern.

Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin also publicly criticized the team’s direction following Sunday’s loss, according to reports.

Jones has insisted that dismissing Schottenheimer is not currently under consideration, per multiple reports including Jon Machota of The Athletic.

But Bryant’s post signals that at least one influential former player believes a change should be made — and he has a specific candidate in mind.

Bryant knows Witten particularly well.

The two shared a Cowboys locker room for eight seasons between 2010 and 2017.

They were key figures in Dallas’ offense during a period when the franchise regularly relied on their contributions.

Witten spent 16 total seasons with the Cowboys across two stints.

He made 255 appearances and earned 11 Pro Bowl selections.

He finished his NFL career with 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns.

Those numbers place him among the most productive tight ends in league history.

Since retiring, Witten has already built a coaching résumé.

He became head coach at Liberty Christian School in Texas in 2021.

He guided the program to consecutive state championships in 2023 and 2024.

His record across those two seasons was 26-1.

In January 2026, Witten joined the University of Oklahoma as tight ends coach.

That was his first position in college football.

He received a major promotion on November 2, 2026, following the dismissal of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

Sooners head coach Brent Venables elevated Witten to a larger role in the wake of that firing.

Moving directly from college coaching into an NFL head-coaching position would represent a significant step.

Witten has never called plays at the professional level or managed an NFL staff.

But Bryant’s endorsement suggests he believes Witten’s leadership and experience could translate.

“I can see it..and I’d love that,” Bryant wrote.

The timing of Bryant’s post is notable.

The Cowboys are 3-5 and have lost four of their last five games.

Schottenheimer’s game plan against Arizona drew sharp criticism.

Jones revealed on 105.3 The Fan that the entire Week 8 plan was built around avoiding turnovers.

“We were playing a game to avoid turnovers the best we could,” Jones said.

“The game plan you saw was doing that. You can call that conservative if you want to.”

Dallas ran the ball 39 times compared to 29 dropbacks in that game.

That conservative approach backfired when Arizona stacked the box and brought pressure.