FRISCO, Texas – Many football fans have seen the third season of the All or Nothing series on Amazon Prime centered on the Dallas Cowboys. The eight episodes covering “America’s Team,” take viewers through the inside look of the 2017 9-7 season. The Cowboys faced many setbacks during 2017 including Ezekiel Elliott’s absence throughout his six-game suspension, Sean Lee’s hamstring injury, Tyron Smith’s right groin strain, and Dan Bailey’s groin injury. Throughout the transitional struggle the offense faced, running back’s coach Gary Brown stood out.
Brown has been with the Cowboys since 2013, when he added to the staff from the Bengals. In his five seasons as running back coach, he has made an impact with the running game and in the lives’ of his backs. In each season since his arrival, the Cowboys have averaged at least 4.5 yards-per-carry, making the longest streak in the franchise’s history. In the last three seasons, the Cowboys have ranked in the top 10 in the league in rushing yards under Brown’s leadership.
He faced the difficult task of preparing for Elliott being present in the offensive scheme, preparing for him to be absent, and getting running backs Rod Smith, Alfred Morris, and Darren McFadden up to speed during the uncertain course of Elliott’s pro-longed suspension case in and out of the courts. In Elliott’s place, Morris finished the Eagles game with an outstanding effort of 91 yards, and the Redskins game with 127 yards. He made an impact for his team in their time of need, and his performance on the field was a testament to Brown’s coaching ability for the ‘silver and blue.
Along with coaching, Brown is a father figure to the players he coaches. Brown told Elliott at the beginning of the season “my job is to get you that ring and that gold jacket.” His role is to help each individual running back become the best he can be and to ultimately hold the Lombardi Trophy in his arms. Mid-way through the season, Brown invited the running backs to his house for dinner to meet his family and enjoy a meal together.
Morris was very moved by the gesture and hospitality of his coach and remarked, “ This is the first time one of my coaches has had a dinner. To open up your home and your family to your players, he treats us like sons. He talks about it and he acts on it.”
Brown believes in the power of relationship between coach and player beyond the gridiron. He voiced his thoughts “ I want them (players), to get to know me and my family. Because if it is just a football relationship, it never grows into what it should be. It should be an extension of my family.”
As laughter around Brown’s dinner table filled the screen during episode four, his point was clear. He is certainly backing up his opinions with actions in the right direction, to visualize to his players his desire and commitment for a relationship with each of them. Brown has coached many great Cowboys’ rushers, but his main goal is mentorship for the men put under his leadership!
