The Dallas Cowboys are continuing to change their coaching staff, and one of the bigger changes has brought on former Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. The Cowboys have officially hired Dorsey as a passing game specialist, which means that the Dallas Cowboys will be focusing on their needless passing game and continuing to be inefficient with their air attack.
With Dorsey’s addition, head coach Brian Schottenheimer hopes to build his first full staff and Dorsey’s track record with Cam Newton and Josh Allen should give the Dallas Cowboys confidence. So what does this mean for Dak Prescott and the offense? We will dive deeper into what this hire stands for, Dorsey’s past coaching history, and how he fits into Dallas’ long-term plans.
Who Is Ken Dorsey? A Look at His Coaching Career
Most people know Ken Dorsey as a well-known coach of quarterbacks, but his coaching career started after he finished his commendable career as a quarterback at the University of Miami, where he helped the Hurricanes win a national championship in 2002. Dorsey’s coaching career started after a short stint in the NFL. His impact was felt in a short while.
- 2013-2017: Coach of Quarterbacks with Carolina Panthers
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- Dorsey was at the forefront of Cam Newton’s development into an MVP-caliber quarterback.
- Newton earned the NFL MVP award in 2015 and brought the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.
- 2019-2021: Coach of Quarterbacks with Buffalo Bills
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- Dorsey was instrumental in Josh Allen’s transformation from an inconsistent passer to one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the NFL.
- Allen went on to become a 2 time Pro Bowl and lead Buffalo during many deep playoff games.
- 2022-2023: Offensive Coordinator with Buffalo Bills
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- After Brian Daboll’s relocation to the New York Giants, Dorsey served as the offensive coordinator.
- Buffalo’s offensive success during his season was in the top 5, but inconsistency led to Dorsey’s firing in November 2023.
- 2024: Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator
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- Dorsey’s stint as offensive coordinator for Cleveland was short-lived after he was fired alongside the coaching staff due to offensive struggles.
Dorsey has experienced hardships in recent years with calling plays, but he has always been able to develop quarterbacks and construct effective passing strategies. Because of this reason, Dorsey would be a great asset to the Dallas Cowboys.
Why Did The Cowboys Hire Dorsey?
The reason behind hiring Ken Dorsey goes beyond simply meeting a requirement; it is aimed at optimizing the team’s offense. Here are some of the explanations that validate this decision:
- Improving Dak Prescott’s Game
Dorsey is attempting to help Dak Prescott perform better than he did in the 2024 season where he was already aided by the offense. Unfortunately for him, he struggled with a lot of the game being situationally relevant. Prescott’s performance is sure to improve because of Dallas’ hope to improve Dorse’s understanding of how to change a player’s steps similar to how he did with Josh Allen along with Cam Newton.
- Enhancing The Cowboys’ Passing Attack
In 2024, the Cowboys’ offense was expected to be explosive, however, the boys ranged to only attain the 11th spot on the table for commencement yards. Dorsey’s arrival should help Dallas modernize their passing game which will help them better use CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson with Prescott as a Quarterback.
- A New Look for the Offense
With the retention of Schottenheimer as head coach and the addition of Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator, it was the right decision to bring in an experienced coach like Dorsey to the offensive staff to balance things out. His background in highly rated passing offenses could shift the Cowboys’ scheme into a completely different plane.
- Learning from Past Mistakes
When he was with Buffalo and Cleveland, there was worry about whether he could still command plays due to his firing in those teams, but he has always excelled where he is most effective, which is in quarterback coaching and game-planning. He will operate as a passing game specialist, which enables him to maximize his strengths without the burden of being in charge of the entire offense.
What This Means for the Cowboys Moving Forward
After losing most of their games in 2024 with a record of 7-10, the Cowboys now sit at a crossroads. They are finally aiming for some improvement with their recently recruited coaching staff before heading into the 2025 season. This is what it could mean for the upcoming season:
- Utilization of the Passing Game
The Cowboys finished 21st in points per game in 2024. This came as a shock since the team had an elite Quarterback along with world-class wide receivers. New coaching strategies by Dorsey should work to better improve the passing game, which can very soon lead to a more balanced offense.
- Probable Breakout Season for Dak Prescott
Prescott has shown great potential on the field, playing at an MVP level, but inconsistency during the postseason has held him back. However, expect improvements to his game now that Dorsey is working with him. His decision-making, deep-ball accuracy, and overall efficiency will surely skyrocket.
- Increased Competition in the NFC East
As the Philadelphia Eagles are crowned winners of the Super Bowl and the San Francisco 49ers along with the Detroit Lions are strong competitors, the Cowboys are falling behind. The Cowboys need all the assistance they can get to fill the gap with the top teams in the NFC which means strengthening the coaching staff is a required step.
Final Thoughts
Hiring Ken Dorsey may not make headlines, but out of the staff additions that the Cowboys have to make, this could be one of the most impactful ones. His background in building quarterback talent and experience at high-level offensive scheme jobs makes him very useful for Brian Schottenheimer.
The addition should benefit Dak Prescott’s game, as he now gets to work with a coach who helped two former MVPs reach the peak of their powers. For the offense of the Cowboys, it is an opportunity to develop new novel concepts of passing, which should help elevate the performance during crucial moments.
This approach may not always lead to success, but at least it indicates that the Dallas Cowboys are willing to change the way they do things offensively. If Dorsey can repeat his success with Newton and Allen, America’s Team will be back and the Cowboys’ offense will be one of the top ones in the NFL once again.
Now everyone is looking at the 2025 season and wondering if this is the year that allows Dallas to finally make that playoff breakthrough.
