Brian Schottenheimer has no issue with Cowboys' players-only meeting after Mike Tomlin criticism

After having literally the worst-ranked defense in the NFL last season, the Dallas Cowboys entered 2026 hoping to see significant improvement on that front. But things haven't gone well through five games, resulting in a players-only meeting after the team's surprising loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

While it's not necessarily uncommon for players to hold meetings amid a tough stretch, this particular meeting gained extra attention after former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin commented on it.

During an appearance on the "New Heights" podcast with the Kelce brothers, Tomlin said a players-only meeting is rarely a good thing for a coaching staff . "I think you're dead," Tomlin responded when asked how a coach should feel about the situation.

Whether he intended it or not, Tomlin's comment thrust Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer into the spotlight. Schottenheimer was asked about the meeting and Tomlin's comment Wednesday and said he has no issue with the players taking ownership of their struggles, per ESPN.

"I love it," Schottenheimer told reporters Wednesday. "I've said from the very beginning, the best teams I've ever been around are led by the locker room. And my information that I received from some of those guys that called that meeting, it was very productive. It was very open and honest."

Schottenheimer added he wasn't bothered by the meeting and he believes the team's defense will get things turned around.

Cowboys continue to struggle on defense in 2026

After allowing a league-worst 30.1 points per game last season, the Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. In an attempt to try to turn things around, Dallas hired Christian Parker from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Through his first five games in that role, Parker hasn't found much success. The Cowboys are allowing 27.2 points per game thus far, which ranks 25th in the NFL. It's an improvement, but only because the team couldn't get any worse.

While no aspect of the team's defense has thrived, the team has particularly struggled against opposing running backs. The Cowboys have already allowed 842 rushing yards on the season, the worst figure in the NFL. Through five games, opposing teams have scored on 48 percent of their offensive drives against the Cowboys, one of the worst rates in the game.

Failure to improve could lead to big changes down the road. Schottenheimer failed to post a winning season in his first year on the job. If the Cowboys struggle again in 2026, both Schottenheimer and Parker could find themselves looking for work.