In ‘mutual decision,’ Scott Linehan is out as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator.
DALLAS — Scott Linehan is out as offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, less than a week after coach Jason Garrett sent mixed messages about the future for the oft-criticized assistant.
Garrett, in a statement released by the team Friday, described the move as a mutual decision after he and Linehan had some open and positive discussions this week. Linehan, who just completed his fifth season in Dallas, had one more season left on his contract.
Dallas rebounded after a 3-5 start to win the NFC East. The Cowboys beat the Seattle Seahawks in a home wild-card game before a 30-22 loss at the Los Angeles Rams last weekend.
Garrett said on his radio show Monday he thought Linehan would return and didn’t expect any significant changes to his staff. But at a news conference later in the day, Garrett was far from definitive and said discussions about a coaching staff had not happened.
Linehan, 55, said in a statement issued by the team that he and Garrett agreed after “a good, direct talk” that “a fresh start was probably best for both of us.”
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Schonert, who came off the bench and led the Cincinnati Bengals to an opening victory during their first Super Bowl season, died Thursday near his home in South Carolina. He was 62. Schonert relieved a struggling Ken Anderson and rallied Cincinnati to a 27-21 victory over Seattle in the 1981 season opener. Anderson started the next game, and the Bengals went on to a 12-4 mark and reached the Super Bowl, losing to San Francisco. Schonert, who went to Stanford, played eight seasons in Cincinnati and one in Atlanta. He also coached with Tampa Bay, Carolina, Buffalo and the New York Giants.