Dallas Cowboys Monumental Head Coach Search

The Dallas Cowboys head coach search will begin soon, as America’s Team season ended with a late loss to the Washington Commanders.

Mike McCarthy, the mercurial coach, is still under contract until January 14th but may find greener pastures elsewhere in the league.

Where does that leave the Dallas Cowboys? For starters, if Mike McCarthy does leave, the team will be on the hunt for a new coach, and several names will come up in the rumor mill.

The team can choose a young up-and-comer or a recycled head coach. The decision is solely on the Jones family, and that could lead in numerous directions.

Let’s take a look at the coaches being talked about as potential fits with the Cowboys.

Recycled Coaches for the Cowboys

Mike Vrabel, a 49-year-old NFL coach, has won Coach of the Year, won nearly 60 percent of his games, and made the playoffs three times in five seasons, including an AFC Championship appearance with a non-elite roster. He is dedicated to his players and effectively communicates his messages.

As many know, Vrabel is a former All-Pro defender who played with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He fused his diverse football education to develop a unique style, balancing toughness and empathy.

A hard-nosed coach may just be what the Dallas Cowboys players need. Most players have had Jason Garrett or Mike McCarthy as their coach and, through media portrayals, are more or less softies.

Brian Flores is a 43-year-old former head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He is also from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, which should be right up Jerry Jones’ alley.

As a Bill Belichick disciple, Brian Flores is fluent in both football’s offensive and defensive sides. As a member of the New England Patriots staff, he, like most members, was tasked with breaking down both sides of the ball.

This created a coach who has excellent attention to detail and will bring exotic looks to the defensive side of the ball.

During Flores’s 2023 introductory press conference as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, he clarified that his players must be tough, physical, and disciplined in their assignments. He also asserted the importance of demonstrating genuine, visible joy on the field, emphasizing that this joy can only arise from a commitment to doing things differently.

This may be the perfect style of coach for the Cowboys—a person who has attention to detail and can produce unique, exotic plays.

Kliff Kingsbury, a 45-year-old and former Arizona Cardinals head coach. This coach brings an offensive playbook that could help take the Cowboys offense to the next level.

Kingsbury attracted significant attention for his history of developing quarterbacks and implementing the “Air Raid” system.

His offense has proven to be effective, as demonstrated during his tenure in Arizona.

In 2020, the Cardinals boasted the sixth-ranked offense, supported by a top-10 ground game that averaged 139.8 yards per game. In 2021, the Cardinals continued to perform well, ranking eighth with an average of 373.6 yards per game.

His offensive strategy combines elements of the air raid and a run-heavy approach. This adaptable offense can initially showcase a high-flying air attack and seamlessly transition to a run-dominant style. This duality creates a significant challenge for opposing defenses.

Having a unique, adaptable offense would be a nice change to what Cowboys fans have seen in the last several years.

Coordinators Who Could Become Head Coach

Ben Johnson, a 38-year-old offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, is a hot commodity in coaching searches around the NFL.

Ben Johnson is seemingly an offensive genius after transforming the once-lowly Detroit Lions offense from one of the worst in the league to one of the best in a year.

To top it off, the personnel on the offensive side of the ball did not change much. This shows the coach can create an offense that fits his players’ strengths.

The Detroit Lions dominate their opponents by utilizing approximately 20 core formations each week rather than countless options. They consistently alter these formations for each game, introducing fresh plays that keep defenses guessing. Even when they revisit a formation later in the season, they ensure the plays differ entirely.

Ben Johnson is always seeking to evolve. He incorporates ideas from assistant coaches and players to achieve this, creating new dimensions in an already impressive offense.

Kellen Moore, a 36-year-old offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, is a well-known coordinator among the Dallas Cowboys.

This familiarity may get him to the top of the list as a potential head coach for the team.

As the coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, he had a high-powered scoring offense, but the play-calling seemed bland.

After a few stops as the coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers and now the Philadelphia Eagles, he gained more experience and evolved his offense.

Kellen Moore’s innovative coaching style is marked by a fast-paced offense that effectively balances passing and rushing efficiency.

Moore’s schemes maximize player strengths, particularly those of quarterbacks, solidifying his status as a top-tier NFL coach.

When given a top-notch running back and the controls to run an offense to his liking, he has proven his offensive strategy is one of the best in the NFL this year.

Aaron Glenn, a 52-year-old defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, has built an impressive resume with his defensive performances.

Aaron Glenn became the defensive coordinator in Detroit in 2021 after an impressive stint as the secondary coach with the New Orleans Saints.

In Detroit, he took one of the worst defenses in the league and turned it into a powerhouse.

Glenn’s coaching style is defined by aggression and adaptability. His talent for instilling confidence and discipline in players has driven Detroit’s success.

Aaron Glenn can connect with players after being a former first-round pick in the NFL. He spent 15 years in the league and got three Pro Bowl nods, giving him great insight on how to connect with players.

Glenn also has a connection with the Dallas Cowboys as a former player. He played for the Cowboys during the 2005 season and knows what is expected in Dallas.

As a player for the Cowboys, this insight gives him first-hand knowledge of what to expect from the Jones family, much like Kellen Moore.

All these coaches would bring a change to the Cowboys organization that may be needed to get over the dreaded playoff and Super Bowl slump they have experienced.

Of all these coordinators, the ones with a connection to the Cowboys may be the betting favorites as the Jones family is familiar with them, and they are all about comfort.

Could these coaches handle the Dallas Cowboys organization with a GM/Owner? That may be a turn-off for a few on this list. I’m looking at you, Ben Johnson, but the notoriety of being the coach of the Dallas Cowboys may still have some luster.

If that luster is still there and Mike McCarthy is not brought back on a new contract, it could be an interesting offseason.