FRISCO, Texas -- As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer finds himself reflecting on the legacy of his father, Marty Schottenheimer. Moments before the kickoff, Brian will close his eyes, place his hand over his heart, and speak to two people: God and his father.

"He's my idol, the guy I looked up to from the time I was a little boy," Brian said. He will ask his father for the courage to lead his players and express his hope to make him proud. This emotional moment will mark the first time in 6,808 days that a Schottenheimer will be the head coach for an NFL game.

Marty Schottenheimer, who passed away in 2021, was an NFL head coach for 21 years, winning 200 regular-season games but never making it to a Super Bowl. Brian, who has been a coach for many years, feels the weight of carrying on his father's legacy. "I've always wanted to make him proud," Brian said. "I think that was always something when I got into the business, I knew that I had literally two things: It was my word, which I never will break for anybody because it's too important, and my last name."

Brian's journey to becoming the Cowboys' head coach has been long and filled with challenges. He has interviewed for several head coaching positions over the years but finally got his chance when he spoke with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in January. Now, at 51, Brian is ready to lead the Cowboys and honor his father's memory.

The Legacy of Marty Schottenheimer

Marty Schottenheimer's career was marked by both success and heartbreak. He led the Cleveland Browns to two AFC Championship Games in the 1980s, both of which ended in devastating losses to John Elway and the Denver Broncos. These games, known as "The Drive" and "The Fumble," are still remembered as some of the most heartbreaking moments in NFL history.

Brian was just 13 years old during "The Drive" and remembers the emotional toll it took on his father and the team. "Just devastating," Brian recalled. "I remember after the game going down to the locker room, and the feeling, it was just like a funeral."

Despite these setbacks, Marty continued to coach with passion and dedication. His final NFL game was in 2007 with the San Diego Chargers, who had the best record in the league that season. However, a heartbreaking loss to the New England Patriots in the playoffs ended their Super Bowl dreams.

Brian's Vision for the Cowboys

As Brian takes on the role of head coach, he aims to instill the same values of hard work, dedication, and brotherhood that his father emphasized. "Without that, you have nothing," Brian said. "These young men commit to something and they give it their all. Not for money. Not for fame or things like that. Yeah, that's nice, but they do it because they love one another."

Brian's players have already noticed the similarities between him and his father. Dak Prescott, the Cowboys' quarterback, shared stories he heard from former coach Mike McCarthy, who worked under Marty Schottenheimer. "Hard-nosed ball coach that didn't take any s---," Prescott said. "Super excited for Schotty to get this opportunity now, making it real."

The Gleam of the Super Bowl

For Brian, the ultimate goal is to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Dallas. He often references his father's famous pregame speech about "the gleam," which represents the shine of the Super Bowl trophy. "He always envisioned holding up the trophy," Brian said. "That's the gleam."

As Brian embarks on his first season as head coach, he knows that his father will be with him every step of the way. "Obviously, I'll be excited, I'll be amped up. I'm sure I'll be nervous, that's part of the deal," Brian said. "From the time I played, to coach, it doesn't matter, there's butterflies and there should be butterflies."

With his father's legacy guiding him, Brian Schottenheimer is ready to lead the Dallas Cowboys to new heights and, hopefully, to the gleam of the Super Bowl.