Insider notes from Shrine Bowl: Why Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer, Jaguars' next GM, 49ers draft plans and more

The Shrine Bowl is not just an opportunity for some of the better draft prospects to perform for scouts, it’s also one of the first times of the year scouts, coaches and NFL decision makers will be in the same place at the same time.

And as you would expect, there was plenty of buzz flying around Frisco. Saturday’s topic was on recent NFL coaching hires and still-open general manager jobs.

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Dallas Cowboys

The hiring of Brian Schottenheimer came out of left field for many. Even those I spoke with who knew it was a possibility two weeks ago said they never believed it would happen. Opinions of Schottenheimer as an offensive coordinator run the gamut, and many were not impressed with his handling of the Cowboys offense the past two seasons.

So why was he hired as head coach of the team?

People here in Dallas tell me it was a decision to appease quarterback Dak Prescott. The Cowboys signal caller, who missed half the season due to a hamstring injury, didn’t want much disruption in the coaching staff and pushed for him to get the top job once Mike McCarthy was fired.

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San Francisco 49ers

Niners coaches here at Shrine Bowl practice have outlined what the plan is and hopes are for 2025. A major priority will be to increase team speed on defense, specifically in the secondary, via the draft and free agency.

There is also a cry to be more innovative on defense. The team was criticized for being too vanilla on defense and never moving away from the base package. The belief is they will be a bit more exotic next season and throw in a lot more wrinkles and surprises.

The hope is also that Dre Greenlaw will be back at full health this upcoming season. The linebacker, who is the spark for the defense, barely played last season after tearing his Achillies during Super Bowl LVIII as he was coming off the field. Niners insiders said not having Greenlaw hurt the defense more than anything else.

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New York Jets

The overall opinion on the hiring of Aaron Glenn as head coach from most I’ve spoke to in Dallas is, “Let’s wait and see what happens.” Some liked the hiring, some did not, but as with any first-time head coach, all agreed Glenn must be given a chance.

There was no shortage of opinions on the general manager spot.

Many believed the Jets dodged a bullet not signing Lance Newmark, who seemed like a shoo-in for the job just last week. While Newmark has had a good run recently as assistant with the Washington Commanders after coming over from the Detroit Lions, people say his overall body of work has been terrible.

The Jets hired Darren Mougey to be their next general manager, and people here in Dallas say it would be a home-run hire. Mougey is a great story, starting as a scouting intern and working his way up the ladder. People from Denver that I’ve spoken with say he’s smart, hard-working and knows talent.

The best compliment of all? Someone from the Broncos said Mougey is “an Adam Peters type,” referring to the general manager of the Washington Commanders.

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Jacksonville Jaguars

A few weeks ago, I reported that Trent Baalke would not be around much longer as the Jaguars general manager; though truth be told, I said he would retire from the position and take another spot in the organization. Baalke was in fact fired as the team’s general manager after Liam Coen initially withdrew his name for consideration as head coach.

Coen took the job after Baalke was released by the Jacksonville. So who will be the team’s new general manager?

People say to keep an eye on Mike Greenberg, the assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Coen came from.

This is more than a familiarity hire if it happens. Greenberg has interviewed for other general-manager opening since the end of the regular season and was in contention for the Jets job.