Who Will Work With Jerry Jones? Cowboys’ Coaching Search Underway With Deion Sanders As Leading Contender

The Dallas Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy parted ways on Monday, following a 7-10 campaign in 2024 that grossly underperformed expectations.

The Cowboys began the 2024 season with postseason aspirations, having extended core pieces Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb over the offseason. Despite having a stellar regular season record under McCarthy, they had just one playoff win over his four-year tenure. The last straw would be a miserable 3-7 start to the 2024 season, featuring blowout losses to the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, which never recovered despite a midseason 4-1 push.

The story of McCarthy has been as much a fixture as the team’s performance itself over the course of the season, amplified by the Cowboys’ massive media reach and comments made by owner Jerry Jones. Following the season’s end – a Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders – McCarthy’s status was still unknown for a week despite Jones implying he had made the decision. The Cowboys even went so far as to deny the Chicago Bears an interview before McCarthy hit free agency.

Jones’ mercurial behavior often made front-page news in the NFL, and doesn’t help with years-long complaints that he is too engaged with the team. “He wanted to be right more than he wanted to win,” said one X user.

Even working with Jones, though, can’t tarnish the shine of a Dallas head coaching job entirely. The roster has young proven talent, particularly Lamb and linebacker/DE Micah Parsons, and coaching America’s Team is a not uncommon dream.

Candidates reportedly include Colorado coach and former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, Eagles (formerly Cowboys) offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier.

Jones is reportedly “enamored with the idea” of bringing Sanders back to Dallas, particularly given his success in Colorado this year, and Sanders “would almost certainly accept” as well, although he has not been officially interviewed yet.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys have scheduled interviews with both Saleh and Frazier. Saleh, a defensively-minded coach, was fired by the Jets after a 2-3 start (the team would go 3-9 down the stretch, with worsening defensive play), and has other options in Jacksonville and Las Vegas. Frazier has been somewhat of a journeyman since parting ways with the Minnesota Vikings as head coach in 2013, working with four teams in that span.

Dallas has also requested an interview with Moore, who is one of the more controversial names on the slate, given the team let him go as the offensive coordinator two years ago. If the request is granted, he will not speak with the Cowboys until the Eagles’ playoff run ends.

While the final decision is still up in the air, there seems to be no shortage of willing candidates (at this point, at least). It remains to be seen who will step into McCarthy’s shoes – and Jones’ employ.

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