The Dallas Cowboys are getting a different kind of boost at training camp today.
With families of Cowboys coaches and players attending practice, head coach Brian Schottenheimer believes having loved ones around can bring out something extra from everyone on the field. And he is not above admitting that the same thing could apply to him.
Schottenheimer joked that his wife being at practice might even convince him to dust off his throwing arm. “I might throw a few balls today. My wife is gonna be out at practice. Just bring the old gunslinger out. It kinda turns her on when I throw the ball,” Schottenheimer said.
For Schottenheimer, though, the impact goes beyond simply having more people watching. He believes players can get an extra jolt from having their families around, particularly during the demanding stretch of training camp when practices can become repetitive and physically taxing.
A family day offers a break from the usual routine while still giving players another opportunity to perform in front of people who matter most to them. The Cowboys are deep into their preparation for the 2026 season, and every practice matters as players compete for roster spots, starting jobs and roles within the team.
This clearly suggests that the second-year head coach is trying to change the Cowboys’ culture. Earlier, former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy wanted to change the culture here, which was also backed by former Cowboys defender Micah Parsons. But seriously, the Cowboys are changing.
Building the Cowboys culture
Coach Schottenheimer recently appeared on a podcast with Trey Wingo, Cris Carter and other stars. When they asked about the cultural changes at the Cowboys, Schottenheimer elaborated a bit about how he is building the culture as a head coach.
“I think, you know, I’m always going to start with the brotherhood,” the head coach said. “Everybody says that, right? Everybody says culture, brotherhood. I think culture is the most overused word in maybe the English dictionary when it comes to team sports, right? These guys truly do care about each other. And when we get these guys back, we don’t do football for a day or two. We want these guys to spend time together, getting to know each other, getting to understand. ‘Hey… this is what I love. This is what I don’t like. This is my mom. This is my wife, my kids.’ Whatever.”
He added, “We divide the teams up into platoons and they do different things too. You get Dak Prescott with Cobie Durant and some young players and they go to dinners. The DBs had dinner last night and the coaches sent me a picture of it. So, I put up in front of the team. Why did I do that? Well, cuz I’m promoting more guys going out and having position dinners.”
Schottenheimer’s approach is simple. He wants his players to build real relationships before they worry about football. By spending time together, getting to know each other and sharing their lives, he believes the Cowboys can build a stronger brotherhood. That connection could have a major impact on the team both on and off the field.
Well, the Cowboys are making so much noise with their training camp in Oxnard. But this year feels different. The Super Bowl discussions swirling around Jerry Jones’ Cowboys for the 2026 NFL season are real and serious.
