When Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones begins his search for a new head coach, he will likely look for someone with a history of winning in the NFL. Jones may focus on an offensive-minded coach who can elevate the team and has experience winning championships.
It’s also likely that Jones will consider someone he knows well and who is used to handling the attention and challenges that come with being the Cowboys’ coach.
Interestingly, Jones’ best option might be Mike McCarthy, the coach he recently parted ways with.
Although McCarthy is no longer with the team and is now looking for another job, he might actually be the best fit for the Cowboys. Jones will be seeking a coach who can lead the team back to the NFC championship game for the first time since 1995.
So who could be the best fits for the job? Let’s look at five key names, plus a few bonus options that will likely come up often:
Bonus: Deion Sanders
Is there any truth to the reported interest between Sanders and Jones? It seems like an unlikely match, but with Jones, anything is possible. There are doubts about whether Sanders’ style would work in the NFL as well as it did at Colorado, but it’s impossible to ignore Sanders’ charisma and the dramatic turnaround he achieved at CU. As unlikely as this hire seems, with Jones, you never know.
Another bonus: Bill Belichick
If the Cowboys had acted sooner and parted ways with McCarthy earlier, Belichick might still be an option. However, Belichick has moved on to coach in college, something he has expressed interest in doing, and Jones is known to avoid paying buyouts (which is odd considering the Cowboys’ $10.1 billion valuation according to Forbes).
Also, it would not look good for Belichick to leave the North Carolina job shortly after taking it. Though Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history and would be a solid choice for Dallas, it’s hard to see this happening.
Yet another bonus: Jason Witten
Witten holds a special place in Cowboys history as a player, but it seems unlikely that Witten would move from being a high school coach to taking over the Cowboys. Jones has spoken highly of Witten in the past, even suggesting he could be an NFL coach someday.
Could Witten join the Cowboys’ coaching staff in 2025? It’s possible, but it’s a stretch to think he’ll be the next head coach. Still, with Jones, you can never rule anything out.
Pete Carroll, former Seahawks coach
Bill Belichick’s age seemed to be a factor in why the NFL overlooked him, leading him to take the job in North Carolina. Carroll is a year older, so it raises the question of whether Jerry Jones would hire a 73-year-old coach. This could happen if Jones believes the Cowboys are close to becoming a championship contender. Carroll has a 170-120-1 NFL record with a Super Bowl ring, and only one losing season from 2012-2023. He also has more energy than most coaches his age. If he has a plan to bring in an exciting offensive coordinator, he could be a good fit. He would be the type of “win now” coach Jones wanted when he hired McCarthy.
Kellen Moore, Eagles offensive coordinator
Jones tends to prefer hiring coaches he’s familiar with. Moore, who was on Dallas’ staff from 2018-2022, including the final four seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator, is someone Jones knows well.
Dak Prescott also has a good relationship with Moore. After McCarthy changed the offensive coordinator in 2022, Moore went on to have two solid seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles. He seems like the kind of hire Jones would make.
Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator
Johnson would be a different choice for Jones since he doesn’t have head coaching experience and would likely be expensive. This makes it less likely the Cowboys will pursue him. However, after almost 30 years without reaching the NFL’s final four, Jones might consider trying something new.
Johnson is one of the top coordinators in the league after his work with the Lions’ offense, which led the NFL in scoring this season. Other teams are also interested in him, so the Cowboys should be too.
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator
Another Lions coordinator, Glenn, might also be a good fit. He has some history with the Cowboys, having played two seasons in Dallas late in his career. Glenn hasn’t been a head coach yet, but he is highly respected for his leadership and defensive skills. He has done an excellent job as the Lions’ defensive coordinator this season. He could be a great fit for the Cowboys.
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders offensive coordinator
There will be college coaches like Steve Sarkisian and Marcus Freeman who might come up in speculation, but the success rate of college coaches moving to the NFL is low. It’s been a while since Jones won championships with college coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer.
It seems more likely that Jones would prefer a coach with NFL experience, as he has with other hires like Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips, and McCarthy.
Doug Pederson could be an option, though he’s had a tough few seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although Kliff Kingsbury’s time as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach didn’t go well, he’s had a solid season as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator.
While Kingsbury doesn’t have direct ties to the Cowboys, he is from Texas, played and coached at Texas Tech, and has worked at Houston and Texas A&M. This background could be enough for Jones to feel comfortable hiring him.
