The Dallas Cowboys recently decided to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract with the organization was up. After weighing McCarthy’s future, owner Jerry Jones ultimately opted not to renew his deal.
McCarthy went 49-35 in five seasons with the Cowboys and won just seven games this year, failing to live up to preseason expectations. Dallas went 12-5 in McCarthy’s second, third, and fourth seasons but earned no more than one playoff win in those three appearances. What’s next for the Cowboys? Here are top candidates Dallas may target.
Who Will Replace Mike McCarthy In Dallas?
Here are nine coaching candidates who could be a good fit for the Cowboys.
Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions
Ben Johnson can become an NFL head coach the moment he decides he wants to.
Multiple clubs — including the Panthers and Commanders, for starters — have reportedly wanted to hire Detroit’s OC over the past few offseasons. Instead, Johnson has turned down opportunities, preferring to stick and build with the Lions.
How much longer he’s willing to wait remains unclear. Johnson is just 38 years old and highly coveted thanks to his success as the offensive coordinator in Detroit. Johnson has been involved with the Lions offense since 2019, taking over the reins as the coordinator in 2022. Their stock has soared this season, but it’s been a progression, something that points to a true impact as opposed to a single strong season.
Detroit’s Offensive Touchdown Rate By Season
- 2021 (before Johnson took over): 19.7% TD rate
- 2022: 29.5% TD rate
- 2023: 30.5% TD rate
- 2024: 37.4% TD rate
The running game is as good as it gets, allowing Jared Goff to flourish (posting career highs in completion percentage, yards per pass, and touchdowns).
Reckless playcalling can occasionally inflate offensive numbers, but that isn’t the case with Johnson. The Lions don’t need to put the ball in harm’s way to access their elite offensive ceiling. Their two lowest turnover rate seasons this millennium (2022 and 2024) have come since Johnson took over, giving them a no-risk, all-reward profile.
In the four seasons before Johnson assumed OC duties, Detroit ranked 14th in turnover rate, 23rd in points per drive, and 24th in punt percentage. In Goff’s last two seasons with the Rams, Los Angeles ranked 23rd in scoring percentage and 24th in turnover rate, and it wasn’t immediately better when he first joined Detroit in 2021 (22nd in scoring percentage and turnover rate).
We live in an offensive-driven league, and Johnson’s resume speaks for itself – at a young age, he’s proven capable of elevating the pieces around him in a significant way, something every team in the NFL finds appealing.
Kellen Moore, OC, Philadelphia Eagles
If Jones wants to go with a familiar face, perhaps he gives former Cowboys quarterback and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore a call. The two already have a relationship, which could help Moore move to the front of the line.
Moore’s name has been on the head coaching radar for quite some time now, and the more the rules shift toward the offensive side of the ball, the more it’s no wonder. Not only did Moore throw for 14,667 yards during his time as a player at Boise State, but he’s led successful offenses in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia as a coordinator.
He’s largely had the benefit of a franchise QB on his roster, but his ability to elevate those talents has been evident since he helped Dak Prescott up his yards per pass rate by 10.8% in his first season with the Cowboys.
KEEP READING: Why Did the Dallas Cowboys Move On From Mike McCarthy?
His ingenuity has been showcased most in play-action situations. The game is moving toward rewarding those who succeed in these plays (the 49ers led in play-action passer rating last season on their way to winning the NFC, while the Eagles/Chiefs were both top-five in that regard a season ago before meeting in the Super Bowl), and Moore is continually improving.
- Cowboys (2019-22): 103.5 play-action passer rating
- Chargers (2023): 107.9 play-action passer rating
- Eagles (2024): 114.5 play-acton passer rating
Philadelphia ranked seventh in red zone trips per game this season, thanks in large part to a suppressed turnover rate. Under Moore’s watch this season, the Eagles have the fourth-lowest giveaway rate, a large reason why this team enters this postseason with more hope than they did a season ago (30th in turnover rate).
Deion Sanders, HC, Colorado Buffaloes
If Jones wants to make a splash and ensure that Dallas remains the talk of the sports world, perhaps he will hire former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders. Even word of their initial discussion took over the internet and sports-media cycle for several days.
Sanders has a well-documented close relationship with Jones, a bond he acknowledged by saying, “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry,” following reports that he had discussed the Cowboys’ head coaching job.
Sanders played five seasons with the Cowboys (1995-1999), winning Super Bowl XXX in his first year with the team. During his tenure, he earned four Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors with the franchise. He had a Hall-of-Fame career that included an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, eight All-Pro selections, eight Pro Bowl nods, and a spot on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and 1990s All-Decade Team.
Sanders led Colorado to a 9-4 record in 2024, marking the program’s first winning season since 2016. The Buffaloes had gone 1-11 the year before his arrival, improved to 4-8 in his first season, and more than doubled their win total in 2024. In addition, Sanders took over a Jackson State program that had gone 21-40 the prior seven seasons and led them to a 27-6 record during his three seasons as head coach (2020-22). He was named SWAC Coach of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.
Sanders’ 2024 Colorado team showcased its ability to improve beyond the flashy star power of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. The 2023 Buffaloes ranked 124th in the FBS in points allowed per game (34.8) and 115th in yards allowed per play (6.3). In 2024, they made significant strides, improving to 46th in scoring defense (23.1 PPG) and 35th in yards allowed per play (5.1).
Since 2007, 11 coaches have transitioned directly from college to the NFL as head coaches. Of those, six have made at least one playoff appearance, with four—Pete Carroll, Jim Harbaugh, Bill O’Brien, and Chip Kelly—posting winning records as NFL head coaches.
Leslie Frazier, Assistant, Seattle Seahawks
Frazier led the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears with six interceptions. However, his playing career was ultimately cut short due to a knee injury.
Transitioning to coaching, Frazier established himself as a defensive-minded specialist before taking on the role of interim head coach for the Minnesota Vikings in 2010. He assumed the position full-time from 2011 to 2013, posting a 21-32-1 record with one winning season. After a 10-loss campaign, he was dismissed and returned to his expertise as a defensive coach. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15) and as a secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2016).
Frazier was with the Bills from 2017-22, serving as their defensive coordinator for the first three seasons and a mix between DC and assistant coach for the last three. Buffalo’s rankings pre-Frazier and during his time in town speak for themselves. He righted a ship that was veering off course in a significant way.
Ranks in points per drive / average drive distance
- 2014: 1st / 2nd
- 2015: 14th / 13th
- 2016: 22nd / 16th
With Frazier from 2017-22, Buffalo’s defense ranked …
- Points per drive: 3rd
- Touchdown rate: 4th
- Average drive distance: 2nd
- 3-and-out percentage: 5th
What specifically could Frazier improve in Dallas? If last season was any indication, his ability to scheme up pressure without needing to bring additional help.
- 2023 Seahawks: 15th in non-blitz pressure%
- 2024 with Frazier: 3rd
- 2023 Cowboys: 1st in non-blitz pressure%
- 2024, resulting in a coaching search: 9th
Frazier’s résumé speaks for itself, but his ability to craft a defensive game plan is one of his standout qualities. During his tenure in Buffalo (2017-22), Frazier’s Bills allowed just 3.87 first-quarter points per game—the second-fewest in the NFL over that span. This ability to limit opponents’ scripted drives gave Buffalo’s offense the breathing room it needed to establish a rhythm and take control of games. After a year off (2023), Frazier signed with the Seahawks as an assistant coach with a similar goal in mind – fix a defense that was previously broken, and he did just that.
NFL Defensive Ranks |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Seahawks | 2024 Seahawks | 2024 Cowboys | |
| Defense+ | 29 | 6 | 25 |
| Points per drive | 29 | 5 | 29 |
| TD rate | 29 | 5 | 31 |
| Drive Distance | 32 | 6 | 14 |
| 3-and-out | 31 | 2 | 14 |
Todd Monken, OC, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Monken was a collegiate quarterback, and much was expected of him when he elected to return to the professional game after spending three seasons in Georgia as their offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. He not only lived up to the hype, he’s overachieved.
During his two seasons with the Ravens, Baltimore leads the AFC in scoring, with Lamar Jackson playing like an MVP for almost every moment. Many coaches are beholden to a system and are tempted to bend their roster to fit their system, but this season has proven that Monken is more than happy to adjust to the strengths of his specific roster.
In 2023, the Ravens ranked 11th in pass rate over expectation, opting to let Jackson decide games rather than banking on a running back without a proven bellcow. That faith earned his quarterback some hardware, and he won an NFL-high 13 games.
Last offseason, Baltimore jumped at the opportunity to add Derrick Henry, a player who is essentially an offense unto himself. Monken not only adjusted his play-calling (29th in pass rate over expectation this season), but he leveraged his new-look unit to further the development of his franchise quarterback.
We are talking about one of the best offensive minds in the sport who is still on the right side of 60 years old. Due to the direction of the NFL, a coach like this is currently valued as high as ever.
Robert Saleh, Former HC, New York Jets
Robert Saleh’s background is rooted in defense, as he served as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator before taking the New York Jets’ head coaching job. The Jets ranked in the top four in scoring defense in each of the last three seasons, including second this season at the time of Saleh’s firing. He was 20-36 in 56 games as Jets head coach.
Saleh’s defensive success could certainly help the Cowboys, who had a DEF+ ranking of 25th in 2024. This marked a significant drop under Mike Zimmer, who replaced Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator. Quinn, who served in the role from 2021 to 2023, consistently led the Cowboys to top-five finishes in DEF+ during his tenure.
However, Saleh might not be the best fit for Dallas, as he has yet to demonstrate the ability to build a consistent offense as a head coach. The Cowboys’ offense struggled throughout the season, particularly after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9. Dallas’s OFF+ ranked 23rd in the league this year, a sharp decline from their Top-8 rankings over the previous three seasons.
Despite fielding excellent defenses, the Jets under Saleh struggled with persistent issues at quarterback. They ranked 27th or lower in OFF+ during all three of Saleh’s full seasons, including the lowest OFF+ score in the NFL since 2019 last season. In his first two years, the Jets leaned heavily on No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, who failed to develop into a reliable starter. When the Jets traded for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the summer of 2023, they believed pairing Rodgers with their elite defense would make them Super Bowl contenders. However, those hopes were dashed when Rodgers tore his Achilles on the fourth play of the 2023 season, effectively ending the Jets’ title aspirations before they began.
Rodgers returned to play this season, but aside from a Week 3 victory over the New England Patriots, the Jets’ offense has largely stagnated. Through five weeks, Gang Green ranks 23rd in scoring, while Rodgers ranks 27th in expected points added (EPA) per dropback and 30th in completion percentage over expectation.
Ron Rivera, Free Agent
Former linebacker Ron Rivera knew how to build strong defenses and bounce back after rough seasons. During his first three seasons as the Panthers’ head coach, Carolina improved from the 27th-ranked scoring defense in 2011 to 18th in 2012 and second in 2013.
Similarly, Washington was the 27th-ranked scoring defense the year before Rivera arrived in 2019 and jumped immediately to fourth in 2020. The Washington Football Team ranked third in PFN’s Defense+ metric in 2020 and fourth in 2022.
And while Rivera’s teams didn’t always sustain elite defensive production, they typically bounced back from down years. For example, Washington fell to the 22nd-ranked scoring defense in 2021 but improved to third in 2022. And after Carolina fell from second to 21st in 2014, the Panthers bounced back to sixth in 2015.
From 2011-19, the Panthers committed the fewest penalties in the league. Similarly, the Commanders committed the fifth-fewest penalties from 2020-23 with Rivera as their coach. This wasn’t a case where either franchise was particularly strong at avoiding penalties either. The Commanders ranked 14th in penalties the year before Rivera arrived in 2019, while the Panthers ranked 25th in penalties the year before he got there in 2010.
Rivera’s famous nickname “Riverboat Ron” was well-earned. The Panthers were one of the most conservative fourth-down offenses during Rivera’s first five seasons from 2011-15. In that span, Carolina went for it on fourth down at the fourth-lowest rate (9.6%) overall and fourth-lowest rate in opponent territory (16.5%). But from 2016-19, the Panthers went for it on fourth down at the ninth-highest rate (15.3%) and the sixth-highest in opponent territory (26.6%).
Carolina added the 10th-most EPA on fourth-down decisions during this span. This carried over to Washington, though Rivera was more situational about his fourth-down aggressiveness. The Commanders had the 12th-highest go-for-it rate from 2020-23 but the ninth-highest in opponent territory.
Pete Carroll, Free Agent
The hiring of Pete Carroll comes with a very easy data point to reference and it’s a convincing one: success.
During his peak time in Seattle (2012-20), the Seahawks (68.4%) trailed only the dynastic New England Patriots in win percentage, had four divisional titles, and, of course, went to the Super Bowl in consecutive years (winning it all in 2013). That’s not a bad run for a coach who took over a franchise that won a total of nine games in the two seasons prior to his hire (in his 14 seasons: 9.8 wins per season).
Even at the end of that peak, Carroll was getting a ton out of his players. Despite having a defensive background, he was able to put together an offense around a veteran QB that earned a ‘B’ in our Offense+ grading metric (for reference, that’s a higher mark than the Minnesota Vikings or Kansas City Chiefs produced this season).
Russell Wilson had a career season (68.8% complete and 40 touchdowns) and it showed that a Carroll team could succeed at a high level, even five years removed from that Legion of Boom era that dominated on that side of the ball.
Speaking of that Legion of Boom, the winning equity they brought to the table ranks up there with any defensive unit in the history of this game. During their peak (2012-15), the Seahawks coughed up just 1.33 points per possession, a rate that was 11.9% better than any other defense over that stretch and would have paced the league this season by over 18%.
The secondary generated the highlights and the sound bites, but this unit excelled at everything and the thought of rekindling that potential is enticing for any franchise. Carroll cut his teeth at the collegiate level on the defensive side of the ball and there is where he made his first impact on the NFL, so it stands to reason that a team could sell itself on his ability to build up that side of the ball.
Carroll’s resume on the offensive end is highlighted by the selecting and developing of Wilson while the defensive peak is stamped by one of the most dominant runs we’ve ever seen.
Jason Witten, Cowboys Legend, Liberty Christian School HC
Jason Witten has served as the head coach of Liberty Christian High School since February 2021. Under his leadership, the team has achieved back-to-back state championships, including its first undefeated season in 2023.
Following this remarkable accomplishment, he was honored as the Whataburger Coach of the Year by the Cowboys in January 2024.
It’s not entirely unprecedented for a coach to make the leap directly from high school to the NFL. Here are a few notable recent examples:
- Doug Pederson: Served as the head coach at Calvary Baptist Academy in Louisiana from 2005 to 2008 before joining the Philadelphia Eagles as a quality control coach in 2009.
- Matt Nagy: Worked as the offensive coordinator at Palmyra Area High School in Pennsylvania before interning with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008.
- Jon Kitna: Served as the head coach at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix before joining the Cowboys as their quarterbacks coach in 2019. He was not retained when Mike McCarthy took over as head coach in 2020.
Witten, of course, has deep ties to the Cowboys. He holds the franchise records for receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) and ranks second in career receiving touchdowns (69), trailing only Dez Bryant.
Witten spent 16 of his 17 NFL seasons with the Cowboys, including a return in 2019 after briefly retiring in 2018 to work as a Monday Night Football analyst.
