The Dallas Cowboys have brought Brian Schottenheimer on board as their new head coach, replacing Mike McCarthy. However, not everyone is thrilled about this choice, including a notable former Cowboys player.

Michael Irvin, a Hall of Fame wide receiver who dedicated his entire 12-year career to Dallas, criticized his former team in a video on his YouTube channel. He expressed disappointment over the Cowboys opting for someone already on the staff instead of Irvin’s preferred candidate, Deion Sanders, another Cowboys legend. “Here’s my concern.

We missed a significant chance. I’m not sure what transpired between Coach Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, but Jerry [Jones, team owner and GM] is a savvy, astute businessman, and I am surprised he didn’t recognize this opportunity. I advocated for Deion Sanders to become the next head coach, and I remain steadfast in that belief.

“Let me explain. Tomorrow, two NFC East teams will face off in the NFC championship game. We’re talking about our rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. They’re in a position we haven’t been in for three decades, the longest drought of any NFC East team. Thirty long years. … By promoting someone from within, we lose intangible benefits that are hard to reclaim, which concerns me.

“We’re losing our footing in the NFC. … It was time to bring in a leader capable of transforming the team and revitalizing the last segment of Cowboys Nation. With 30 years without a title, and assuming a 100-year lifespan, one-third of Cowboys fans have never experienced the thrill of a championship. They can’t pass down stories of glory when they haven’t lived it. Worse still, this generation has witnessed the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominance, potentially winning three consecutive titles. So, not only are we forfeiting games and opportunities, but we’re also at risk of losing our ‘America’s Team’ moniker.”

Irvin’s reference to “America’s Team” harks back to the Cowboys’ glory days in the 1990s when they clinched three Super Bowl victories. He criticized the decision to hire internally, pointing out what he sees as issues with team discipline. “I know what we needed,” Irvin remarked. “They lack curfews and discipline. We ranked fourth in penalties this season. So, how do you address that? How do you effect change from within?”

Sanders has carved out a successful career as a college head coach in Colorado, leading his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, and Heisman winner Travis Hunter to a bowl game in just two seasons. Earlier in the coaching carousel, Sanders showed interest in the Las Vegas Raiders vacancy, but that did not materialize (the Raiders recently appointed Pete Carroll as their head coach). Although Jones reportedly had discussions with Sanders about the Cowboys’ head coaching role several weeks ago, he ultimately chose a different path, much to Irvin’s dismay.