The Dallas Cowboys NFL head coaching search is well underway, and there have already been several names tied to the historic franchise. Bill Belichick removed himself from the list pretty early on, coming to an agreement with the North Carolina Tarheels for his first stint as a college head coach.
Mike Vrabel, the former Tennessee Titans head coach, returned home to New England to replace former Patriot Jerod Mayo. The Cowboys have set up interviews with former New York Jets HC Robert Saleh and Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore.
Strangely, it is rumored that the Cowboys don’t have any interest in Lions’ OC Ben Johnson, the hottest name on the head coaching market. It wouldn’t surprise me for my team to eliminate one of the best choices in the coaching pool without even speaking to him.
The list of coaching candidates might not be long, but there are notable names that stand out above the rest. Some of these names would be perfect fits for some of the Cowboys superstar players. Yesterday, I wrote about offensive-minded coaches that would be great fits for the Cowboys’ offensive stars.
Today, we will highlight the defensive-minded coaching candidates, and which player on the Cowboys defense they can benefit the most.
EDGE Micah Parsons
Best Fit: Robert Saleh
Robert Saleh didn’t have the best track record as a head coach during his time with the New York Jets, but one thing you can’t criticize is his defense during his Jets tenure. After finishing 32nd in his first season, the Jets finished fourth, third, and third in yards allowed over the next three seasons.
If Saleh is hired by the Cowboys, it would most benefit Micah Parsons. Saleh will surely feature Parsons as the center point of the defense, and will make sure to build the defensive line around him.
Saleh has experience coaching another top edge rusher: Nick Bosa. During his time as the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, the 49ers surrounded Bosa with other elite defensive line talent like Solomon Thomas, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, and Javon Kinlaw.
Coaching Micah Parsons would be different for Saleh because Micah’s athleticism makes him almost a hybrid of Nick Bosa and LB Fred Warner. Saleh could use Parsons in ways that he couldn’t with previous players he has coached.
CB Trevon Diggs
Best Fit: Deion Sanders
When I think of CB Trevon Diggs, I think of a player who takes a great deal of pride in his performance on the field. That was made evident by his famous “Deez nuts” comment at a reporter right after a loss earlier in the season.
Diggs cared enough to confront the media for a bad tweet before he even got his shoulder pads off, and that kind of passion for the game is exactly what Deion Sanders brought when he played. For that reason, Sanders would be a great mentor to Diggs if he is hired as the next head coach.
Deion and Diggs are similar in that they both are cornerbacks that can erase their side of the field. Sanders used to do it in the 1990s, and Diggs doesn’t match the same level of shutdown, but it’s not as easy in today’s game.
Sanders would also be able to help Diggs get through the criticism he receives for not being a willing tackler. Deion went through the same when he played, and he always had a chip on his shoulder about it.
Diggs is currently rehabbing a torn ACL, and Sanders would be able to help him through his recovery as well. Deion dealt with turf toe that eventually contributed to the end of his career, and can also be blamed for Sanders’ current health concerns.
CB DaRon Bland
Best Fit: Aaron Glenn
The Cowboys might want to consider whether or not they want to employ a defensive coordinator that couldn’t contain the youngest and most dangerous quarterback in the NFC East.
Dallas will face Jayden Daniels twice a year for the foreseeable future, and Detroit DC Aaron Glenn just saw his defense give up 45 points in the Divisional round of the playoffs to the rookie Commanders quarterback.
If Dallas should hire Aaron Glenn to be their next head coach, he would be a welcome addition for CB DaRon Bland. Bland isn’t as flashy as Diggs or Deion. He is quieter, and let’s his play on the field do the talking.
Aaron Glenn was the same way as a player with the New York Jets, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and two throwaway years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints. He played as an undersized cornerback, standing just 5’9″ and 185lbs.
Bland is a 5th round pick who enjoys being out of the spotlight, even though his NFL record-breaking five interceptions returned for touchdown in 2023 put him squarely in the crosshairs of NFL offensive coordinators.