4 Coaches Cowboys Will Target To Replace Mike McCarthy
01/13/2025 12:19 PM
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a new head coach.
Multiple reports have confirmed that the Dallas Cowboys are moving on from head coach Mike McCarthy, who had been with the franchise since 2020. McCarthy coached the 2024 season on an expiring contract as the Cowboys dealt with injuries and finished 7-10. Prior to that, McCarthy led the Cowboys to three straight 12-win seasons from 2021-23, though they failed to reach the NFC Championship Game.
Jerry Jones and McCarthy reportedly had conversations about a new contract this month, though the two sides couldn't come to terms on a new deal.
Now, McCarthy is a free agent and the Cowboys are in need of a new head coach. Who will Jerry Jones target?
Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach is expected to return in 2025, however, he could be a perfect fit in Dallas. The Super Bowl-winning head coach has struggled to build a modern, successful NFL offense in Pittsburgh in recent years. But the pieces are already in place in Dallas, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb both on longterm contracts.
The Cowboys need a culture shifter and someone to take control of the locker room. Tomlin, who has been the Steelers head coach since 2007, could certainly do that.
NFL fans will probably question if Jerry Jones would be willing to make this kind of hire, though he's done it before, when he hired Bill Parcells.
Maybe he would do it again.
Steve Sarkisian
The Texas Longhorns head coach is expected to get interest from the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys have been named one of the possible landing spots.
Jones might be unwilling to hire a first-time NFL head coach, especially one out of the college football level, but Sarkisian has led Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. And the politics within the program at Texas are pretty similar to that within the Cowboys franchise. That's to say that there are a lot of voices involved and people to deal with. Sarkisian has done a great job with that at Texas and could do well in Dallas.
Ben Johnson
The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is the hottest name on the NFL head coaching carousel right now. He's been linked to the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars opening, but you have to imagine that Jerry Jones could get involved here, too.
The Cowboys have a talented roster, especially on offense, and could thrive with a creative playcaller like Johnson.
Johnson and the Lions are getting ready to host the Commanders in an NFC Divisional Round Playoff Game on Saturday night. If he is the hire in Dallas, the Cowboys might have to wait a while.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders had to get a mention.
The Colorado Buffaloes head coach has said that he would only consider an NFL opportunity if it provided him with the ability to coach both of his sons in Shedeur and Shilo.
That doesn't seem possible in Dallas, unless Shedeur is willing to ride the bench for a couple of years behind Dak Prescott. But maybe the allure of the Cowboys job will be too good to pass up if Jerry Jones shows interest in Deion Sanders.
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Who do you think the Cowboys will end up hiring to replace Mike McCarthy?
