It’s not every week that an NFL coach has to call animal control before a big game. But that’s exactly what happened to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and now, fans are calling it a sign from the football gods.
Just days before Dallas’ next matchup, Schottenheimer shared that on Thursday night, an owl somehow found its way into his house. Rather than panic, he turned the chaos into humor, joking that he might start seeing it as a ‘good omen.’ “Shoot, I’ll put an elephant in my freakin’ garage if I have to,” he joked. “If that’s what it takes to win, I’ll do it.”
The internet quickly turned the story into a meme. Between the snake that bit his dog earlier this season and this unexpected house guest, fans think the Cowboys’ coaching staff is living through a real-life episode of Dr. Dolittle.
What Happened Inside the Cowboys Coach’s House Before Game Day
According to Schottenheimer, it all started during his late-night prep for the Arizona game. “I got back to my phone and I literally had 72 text messages,” he said. One of them was from his son: ‘Um, there’s a big hawk-sized bird in here.’ Turns out, it wasn’t a hawk, it was an owl.
His son was doing some work when he accidentally left the sliding doors open. Within minutes, the nocturnal visitor flew inside, and chaos followed. Schottenheimer said that his son called his niece’s fiancé, who tried to help him before they called animal control. “The two of them together, Frick and Frack, tried to figure it out. They couldn’t do it. All they did was piss it off,” Schottenheimer laughed.
Eventually, the family called in backup, described by the coach as “a gentleman with a pool net.” The rescue was a success, and the owl was safely released outdoors. Schottenheimer’s wife, Gemmi, shared a series of Instagram Stories videos that captured the massive owl perched inside their home. The clips also showed animal control carefully removing the bird with a large net before releasing it safely outdoors, turning the unexpected visit into an unforgettable moment for the family.
Why Fans See The Owl As An Unusual Sign For The Cowboys’ Season
This wasn’t the first time the Schottenheimers had a wild visitor this season. Earlier in the year, their family dogs were bitten by snakes just before Dallas’ overtime win against the Giants, a game marking Schottenheimer’s first as head coach. Since then, fans have joked that every creature encounter seems to bring a Cowboys victory.
Schottenheimer laughed off the superstition, saying, “I think we won when we had the snake issue, so that’s probably a good omen.” Still, fans couldn’t resist sharing their own reactions. One wrote, “Is this a good or bad omen for the season? 🤔😬😂” while another added, “Animals trying to tell him his DC doesn’t rock with him. 😂😂”
A few even joked that the owl had a message: “The owl came to tell him that Jalen Hurts is better than Dak,” and “Bro needs to start building an arc, God is trying to tell him something.”
For fans craving momentum, the story added a lighthearted twist to the season. Whether it’s superstition or coincidence, Schottenheimer isn’t taking chances. The owl is gone, but the good vibes and the jokes are sticking around.
Published: Oct 31, 2025 05:29 pm