For most teams, the length of a head coach's contract isn't all that important: Successful coaches routinely get extensions before their contracts are up.

The Dallas Cowboys' extensive search for their 10th head football coach ended in their backyard when they promoted Brian Schottenheimer from the offensive coordinator spot he held under his predecessor Mike McCarthy.

Schottenheimer interviewed for the job over two days this week and convinced the team to give him his first head coaching job. Schottenheimer had no other interest elsewhere. The