FRISCO, Texas – Since Monday, since Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his head coach Mike McCarthy parted ways, been asked this question several times, seemingly becoming the national narrative out there:
How coveted is the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job?
And thoroughly understand why this has begun, since most think working for Jones is an untenable job when in reality he will bend over backwards to prove his choice of head coach is successful, though within the parameters of the salary cap.
So as cliché as this might be, we can start right here. Of course coaching the Dallas Cowboys is a coveted position. It's one of only 32 out there. These opportunities don't just fall off trees. Heck, becoming the head coach of the New York Jets would be "coveted" by most, too.
But let's do this: What is the most important position on a football team? Easy. Quarterback.
Of the now six NFL head coach openings – Dallas, Chicago, Jacksonville, New York Jets, New Orleans and Las Vegas – which team has the most stable quarterback situation?
Let's see, Chicago has a chance with Caleb Williams, the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But playing a raw rookie probably cost Matt Eberflus his job. Jacksonville can't decide, or maybe the Jags have, if Trevor Lawrence is the guy, although once he was placed on IR after suffering a concussion, Mac Jones didn't exactly light it up. Then there is New Orleans. Who knows if Derek Carr will restructure his contract? Will the Saints move on from the veteran QB, or are they willing to take a chance on Spencer Rattler, or for that matter Taysom Hill?
The Jets? Will they continue with the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, or are they handing off to this year's fifth-round pick Jordan Travis or someone to be named later? Who knows? And in Vegas, the Raiders played three QBs this year: Gardner Minshew, Aiden O'Connell and Desmond Ritter. Any of that get you excited?
And herein is the majority reason why these teams are moving on from their head coaches. Quarterback problems. And think about this: Of the five new head coaches in the 2020 hiring cycle, McCarthy lasted longer than all but one, that being Cleveland's Keven Stafanski, though QB problems nearly have done him in. The rest, Matt Ruhle during his third season, Ron Rivera after his fourth and Joe Judge after his second all gone. Now McCarthy after his fifth.
As you can see, hiring head coaches is nowhere near an exact science.
But the Cowboys, well, the new head coach, providing a total recovery from the surgery to repair the season-ending torn hamstring tendon, will have the most proven quarterback of this bunch: Dak Prescott. And let's not forget it was just a year ago that Dak came in second to Lamar Jackson in MVP voting. And he led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes in 2023.
If I'm a head coaching candidate for one of these jobs, knowing who my quarterback is going to be is my top priority over anything thing else. Period.
Covet the quarterback in hand, not having to rattle the bushes for one.
- Familiarity: When trying to look into owner Jones' crystal ball on who he might name as the franchise's 10th head coach, his ninth hire, consider familiarity with candidates. Sure, that immediately brings to mind Deion Sanders, Kellen Moore, Mike Zimmer and Jason Witten. Seriously, Witten, the 16-year veteran tight end of the Cowboys who has been the head coach at nearby Argyle Liberty Christian High School the past four years, has won two Division I private school state championships (TAPPS). Jerry just might see a future Dan Campbell in Witten.
- More Moore: As for Cowboys' former backup QB, quarterback coach and offensive coordinator turned Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, preparing for Philadelphia's NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, he had this to say about the Cowboys' potential interest in him being the team's next head coach: "I spent a lot of time there, eight years there, so have plenty of relationships in that place. I love it here (Philadelphia). I've had so much fun here. It's been a really fun process, and we're in a really special situation right now, getting the chance to play this Sunday, having a chance to make a run at this thing. And that's really all you worry about. Everything else is what it is, and we'll see where it takes you." Biggest consideration here is if Kellen, who only has been an offensive coordinator, can coordinate the entire team, and also be able to convince players he's coached still with the Cowboys on offense that he's now the head guy. There still are 19 players the Cowboys have controlling rights for in the 2025 season that were here during Kellen's five years coaching in Dallas.
- About Time: No, not for yet another reminder that it's time for Cowboys Ring of Honor member Darren Woodson to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, although don't mind throwing out that reminder for the next couple of weeks. Nope, this is for Cowboys former safety Aaron Glenn (2005-06) to snag an NFL head coaching job. Glenn, from Humble, Texas, who played his college ball at Texas A&M and played three of his 15-year NFL career with the Texans, has spent 11 seasons coaching in the NFL, the past four as the Lions' highly successful defensive coordinator. Just having known Aaron, who he is, what he's like and a personality that is magnetic, think he'd be a helluva NFL head coach. And he's getting interviews with the Jets, Jags, Bears, Raiders and Saints, having played in New Orleans for one season and later serving as Sean Payton's defensive backs assistant for five years (2016-20). And hopefully getting interviewed this round for more than satisfying team's Rooney Rule provision to at least interview minority coaches. This guy can build a culture for sure. Hey, Jerry does know Aaron, too. Loved talking ball with him for those two years. Great insight into what was going on and what was coming up. He used to joke with me after doing his mass interviews with TV cameras rolling, and then seeing me hanging back, "Now what do you want?"
- Beware The Commanders: And that goes out to the No. 1 Detroit Lions, meeting Washington in a divisional-round playoff game Saturday night. If you believe in karma, these Commandeers are living a charmed existence, the latest evidence coming in their wild-card round walk-off field goal in a 23-20 victory over Tampa Bay, with the kick clanging off the right upright and bouncing through. Not to mention their game-changing touchdown set up compliments of Baker Mayfield's unforced fumble they recovered, and then the Buccaneers having to settle for the game-tying field goal after the center screwed up the snap count on a third-and-1, turning the kick into a fourth-and-six. This but a week after the Commanders, down 19-16 to the Cowboys, score the winning touchdown to secure their sixth seed in the playoffs with backup QB Marcus Mariota's 5-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left in the game. Oh, and who can forget when trailing the Bears 15-12 on the final play of the game, that 52-yard Jayden Daniels walk-off Hail Mary touchdown pass that tipped off the jump ball scrum into the waiting hands of former Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown for a 18-15 victory. Some higher being is looking over this team.
- Off The Cuff: This will never end, Jerry being asked if it's time to hand off his general manager title to someone else, though seems that is not the success elixir most consider since GMs get fired, too, with three current teams searching to hire a new one … You would think if moving on from a head coach that there would be someone immediately in mind to be the next guy, although in the case of the Bears, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, they have either interviewed (in person or Zoom) or will interview (McCarthy included on Wednesday) at least 20 candidates, sort of like fishing for shrimp. McCarthy is scheduled to receive the red-carpet treatment, especially since he is known for developing young quarterbacks … Think about this: McCarthy, in his 18 seasons as a head coach, 12½ with the Packers and five with the Cowboys, has won eight division titles (two with the Cowboys) and five other times finished second, the last of those with the Cowboys in 2022 … Man, quite a résumé.
Seem to be doing this often, but because he always seems to have something to say, no matter what, might as well give Micah Parsons the floor once again from his Monday podcast, "The Edge," since he voiced his opinion of the Cowboys and McCarthy parting ways.
"I'm obviously very sad because of the relationships we had with Coach McCarthy, and everything he's done for our program," Parsons said. "Three straight 12-5 seasons, playoff appearances and obviously an unfortunate year due to injuries and things like that … but it is devastating. Coach Mike's a great father, coach, one of the most winningest coaches. And you know, he has always been good to us as a unit, coaches, players. Losing a great coach like Mike hurts. But it's going to be a very interesting offseason due to the free agents, the coaching. It's like it is going to be a complete reset."
But knowing he had better cover his bases with the owner, hoping to negotiate a long-term deal instead of playing his fifth season under the one-year guaranteed franchise tag that includes no signing bonus, he went on to say this about the situation.
"But listen, I already know. … I trust my owner, I trust our GM, I trust [vice president of player personnel] Will McClay that we're going to make the right decisions, the right decision when it comes to coaching. We don't know who is getting (hired), there has been a lot of speculation, former players like Prime Time, Witten. But at the end of the day, speculation is speculation. We going to wait to see who's getting hired, who's going to be our DC our OC, because it's going to be a complete reset.
"It's going to be very interesting."
To say the least, there Micah.
