Forget Sean Payton; a new name has been thrown into the conversation for the future head coach of the Cowboys. Basketball icon and lifelong Dallas fan Shaquille O’Neal recently suggested Deion Sanders should take over as coach, and now “Prime Time” has responded clearly about his interest level.
Sanders is currently preparing for his third season as head coach of Jackson State University. He recently won the Eddie Robinson Award after JSU’s 11-win season, being recognized as the top coach in the NCAA Division-I subdivision.
Shaq and Deion, both mega sports stars in the same era, likely have a relationship outside of their professional walks. O’Neal has clearly been paying attention to Sanders’ work at JSU and said the following on The Rich Eisen Show:
Arguably the greatest cornerback in NFL history and an all-time athlete in any world, Deion played for the Cowboys from 1995-1999. He knows the culture and the Jones family as well as anyone could.
In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon, Sanders responded to Shaq’s comments and left no doubt where his heart lies.
Thankfully, Deion’s lack of desire to coach the Cowboys appears to have nothing to do with the organization. It sounds like he would respond the same way to the 49ers, Falcons, or any other NFL team. He’s here to mold young men and not manage millionaires.
At 54-years-old there’s still plenty of time for Deion Sanders to decide he wants a new adventure. But at least for now, the idea of him coaching the Dallas Cowboys appears to be off the table.
That makes one less guy for Mike McCarthy to worry about.
