The Dallas Cowboys have more pressure on them in 2025 than ever. Dak Prescott, expected to be healthy, has pressure to deliver for the first time since getting his breakout contract in 2024.
Brian Schottenheimer also has pressure to prove Jerry Jones right in keeping the head coach hiring in-house. On top of it all, 2025 marks the 30th season since Dallas last won the Super Bowl. If they fail here, they can’t erase the drought milestone.
That said, the head coach didn’t exactly kick off his tenure with a cold and brutal tone-setting OTA.
Brian Schottenheimer Replaces Cowboys’ Practice With Another Game
Taking to X on May 30, Cowboys reporter Jon Machota reported that the new head coach “took the team to play paintball” instead of conducting a typical practice on the first day.
“Cowboys Pro Bowl LG Tyler Smith said new head coach Brian Schottenheimer took the team to play paintball on the first day of optional team activities,” Machota posted.
Cowboys Pro Bowl LG Tyler Smith said new head coach Brian Schottenheimer took the team to play paintball on the first day of optional team activities. “I thought that was a crazy thing. That’s never happened before. I thought that was really cool to start things off on a fun…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 30, 2025
The post continued, and Smith named who was the best paintball shooter. “I thought that was a crazy thing. That’s never happened before. I thought that was really cool to start things off on a fun note. … The guys were going crazy. It was fun. Who was the best? Markquese Bell. Oh my God. Oh my God. Markquese Bell could probably go to SEAL Team 6. I’m not gonna lie, the way he be paintballing, Bell, for sure,” he said.
So, maybe a post-NFL journey for Bell could be in paintball. Either way, the purpose of the OTA field day wasn’t just to take the day off. Instead, it was a way to help generate some real chemistry between the players.
This way, when the live bullets are flying starting in September, players won’t be shy about calling it like they see it. Simply put, the goal is to grease the communicative wheels of the machine that is the Cowboys.
Schottenheimer’s Decision Carries Risk
Schottenheimer isn’t the first head coach to cancel or change an OTA practice beyond recognition, and he won’t be the last. However, the decision carries a risk.
On the plus side, he should get better and more open communication from his players. However, if Dallas struggles or starts slow, detractors will point to the decision to essentially cancel practice as a culprit, which points directly at Schottenheimer.
Of course, if the Cowboys start strong, the decision to cancel practice doesn’t often get the same proportional positive response, but if Schottenheimer deems it a necessary risk, then he has to make the move he feels he needs to make, regardless of appearances.