For much of the season, it was believed the Cowboys would be hiring a new coach. However, as the year ended, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones appeared to be open to keeping Mike McCarthy.
Last week, during the period the Cowboys had exclusive talks with McCarthy, they blocked him from speaking with the Bears. This gave the impression the Cowboys might try to reach an agreement with McCarthy.
While Jones is now saying the two sides decided to part ways without further talks, it seems the real issue was the contract length. Jones likely wanted a shorter deal, while McCarthy probably wanted more job security. The two sides couldn’t agree on this, and now the Cowboys are moving on.
So, what’s next for Jerry?
It’s still possible that the Cowboys and McCarthy could reunite if McCarthy doesn’t get offers from teams like the Bears or the Saints. This is especially true since quarterback Dak Prescott and others, like linebacker Micah Parsons, have shown they want some consistency. If McCarthy is willing to accept a short-term deal, why wouldn’t Jerry go for it?
Looking beyond McCarthy, who might Jerry be interested in? There are three main categories: coordinators with no head coaching experience, fired former head coaches, and college coaches.
A hot candidate is Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Lions, known for his creative plays. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who has worked with Jones before, could also be considered.
However, if Jones decides he wants someone very different from his previous coach, he might look for a younger defensive coach, as Jones hasn’t hired a defensive-minded coach since Wade Phillips.
As for fired former head coaches, how about Bill Belichick? Belichick has spoken highly of the Jones family over the years, and Jones said last year there’s “no doubt” he could work with Belichick if he were to let McCarthy go. Belichick is eager to return to coaching, especially to chase the all-time wins record held by Don Shula.
He recently took the North Carolina job, but it’s clear he would leave for the right coaching opportunity, especially since he has a clause allowing him to leave for just $10 million.
In previous years, Jones was reportedly interested in Jon Gruden. Though Gruden’s lawsuit against the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell could complicate things, Jones likely believes he could work through any issues to hire him if he chooses.
A rumor emerged over the weekend suggesting Jones might be interested in Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. While the rumor is not confirmed, it’s worth mentioning as the Cowboys begin their search.
There’s also the chance that Jones may try to make a deal with another team to acquire an established coach. This would require giving up one or more draft picks.
Whoever becomes the next coach will need to accept Jerry as the team’s main voice, appearing on the radio twice a week and speaking after most games. The new coach will also have to handle Jerry’s love for charging fans to visit the facility, watch the players, and disrupt the team’s work.
And, of course, the coach will be responsible for the game plan, but the Jones family will make the important decisions. Right now, they only have one thing on their list: a new coach. No matter how this plays out, they’ll make sure the process gets plenty of attention.
