Cowboys legend joins Michael Irvin and suggests a surprising replacement for Brian Schottenheimer to Jerry Jones: “I can see it”

The pressure on Brian Schottenheimer is increasing after the Dallas Cowboys slipped to a 3-5 record with a painful overtime defeat against the Arizona Cardinals .

While owner Jerry Jones has insisted that dismissing his head coach is not currently under consideration, former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has already suggested an alternative.

Bryant believes Jason Witten could be the man to take charge in Dallas if the franchise eventually decides to move on from Schottenheimer.

His recommendation comes after Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin also publicly criticised the team's direction following Sunday's 33-30 defeat.

Taking to X on November 5, Bryant made his preference clear, backing his former teammate for the position.

“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 knows Witten particularly well after sharing the Cowboys locker room with him for eight seasons between 2010 and 2017.

The pair were important figures in Dallas' offence, building a strong relationship during a period when the franchise regularly relied on their contributions.

Witten spent 16 seasons with the Cowboys across two spells, making 255 appearances and earning 11 Pro Bowl selections.

He finished his NFL career with 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most productive tight ends in league history.

His leadership and experience are among the qualities that could make him attractive to Bryant , although moving directly from college coaching into an NFL head-coaching position would represent a significant step.

Witten's coaching opportunity at Oklahoma could strengthen his case

Witten has already started building a coaching career since retiring from professional football.

He became head coach at Liberty Christian School in Texas in 2021, guiding the programme to consecutive state championships in 2023 and 2024 and recording a 26-1 record across those two seasons.

In January 2026, he joined Oklahoma as tight ends coach, taking his first position in college football. He has since received a major promotion following the dismissal of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on November 2.

Sooners head coach Brent Venables appointed Witten interim offensive coordinator and play-caller for the remainder of the season.

“The greatest teaching tool for me was coaching high school because it really taught me, coming from the NFL, that they don’t learn like I do,” Witten previously explained.

“I learned they don’t have the same expectation. So how do I impact, how do I reach them, how do I get that?”

Venables also explained the responsibility being handed to the former Cowboys star.

“Beginning today, he [Witten] will lead our offensive staff in preparing a clear and focused plan that gives our players the best opportunity to execute with confidence,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dallas' immediate priority remains recovering from its collapse against Arizona. The Cowboys surrendered a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage before losing 33-30 in overtime, falling to 3-5.

Jones subsequently defended the coaching staff, saying a change was not something he was considering at that moment.

Witten's new responsibilities at Oklahoma will provide an opportunity to demonstrate his coaching ability, but Bryant's suggestion remains a hypothetical one.

For now, Schottenheimer retains the Cowboys job, while the former tight end has an important challenge ahead of him in Norman.