Schottenheimer Reflects on Hunt’s Kindness Before Cowboys-Chiefs Showdown

DALLAS, Texas – As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, coach Brian Schottenheimer reflects on the kindness shown to his father, the late Marty Schottenheimer, by Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt.

For Brian Schottenheimer, the annual Thanksgiving matchup means more than just a football game. It invokes powerful memories of the support his father received from the Hunt family during a critical time in his life. “I’ve always had immense respect for the Hunt family. They treated us incredibly well while my dad was coaching there,” Brian said. “The way they cared for him after he got sick really means a lot to me.”

Growing up in a football family, he was acutely aware of the bond between his parents and Lamar and Norma Hunt. “I remember that stadium, his first game coaching there. There were maybe 21,000 fans back then,” Schottenheimer recalled, reflecting on that first game in Kansas City in 1988.

He noted the remarkable transformation of the Chiefs during his father’s tenure. “He completely changed the organization. Arrowhead eventually became the packed, tailgating-filled stadium it is today,” Brian said. For him, the relationships formed during those years are as meaningful as the team’s successes.

<p“Seeing the success my dad had is special to look back on. The people in that organization treated us like family, which is how it should be,” he added.

The Chiefs’ history is closely tied to the Cowboys, dating back to when they were originally the Dallas Texans before relocating to Kansas City. Marty Schottenheimer’s coaching from 1989 to 1998 brought seven playoff appearances and three division titles, creating lasting memories for Brian. He even worked with his father at Arrowhead Stadium in 1998.

As Thanksgiving approaches, this classic rivalry reminds Brian Schottenheimer of history, family, and the lasting support of Lamar Hunt—an enduring gesture that he treasures.