The Dallas Cowboys just can’t seem to dodge the spotlight — or the shade. During a Monday Night Football promo highlighting the Week 11 matchup between Dallas and the Houston Texans, an NFL commentator threw some serious heat at America’s Team, and fans couldn’t get enough of the zinger.
But the burn wasn’t on-field this time — it was on live TV. Love them or hate them, the Cowboys always find a way to stay in the headlines, even when it means taking some hits from the booth.
What did Kirk Herbstreit Say About the Cowboys?
NFL Analyst Kirk Herbstreit didn’t mince words about the Cowboys’ prime-time woes during a promo for Monday Night Football.
The ESPN analyst called out America’s Team for continuing to get marquee games despite their spiraling season, and honestly, he’s not wrong.
“Just keep putting Dallas in those high-profile windows. They just keep losing games. That is a train wreck,” he stated.
"Just keep putting Dallas in those high-profile windows. They just keep losing games. That is a train wreck…" – Kirk Herbstreit during an ESPN promo for Texans-Cowboys MNF
"Other than that, what's your opinion on the Cowboys?"- Rece Davis🏈📺🎙️ pic.twitter.com/FXihwctZtV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 16, 2024
The Cowboys, now sitting at 3-6, are limping into Monday’s clash against the Texans after a humiliating 34-6 loss to the Eagles. That game set an NFL record—Dallas has trailed by at least 20 points in five straight home games.
Talk about brutal! Their AT&T Stadium performances have been a horror show, with deficits like 32 to Green Bay, 38 to Detroit, and 28 to Philly. Ouch.
Herbstreit’s jab wasn’t just a one-liner. Even host Rece Davis couldn’t resist poking fun, asking, “Other than that, what’s your opinion on the Cowboys?”
Despite the mess, Dallas remains the NFL’s cash cow. Big D’s got three more primetime gigs lined up: Thanksgiving vs. the Giants (Nov. 28), MNF vs. the Bengals (Dec. 9), and SNF vs. the Bucs (Dec. 22). But with no Dak Prescott and a coach on thin ice, this season’s looking more drama than dominance.
Dallas might thrive in the national spotlight, but they’re just absorbing hits — literally and figuratively. Can they salvage their season, or will their “train wreck” reputation stick? With each crushing loss, the answer seems painfully clear.
Playoffs? More like a pipe dream. And here’s the kicker: 29 seasons without a conference championship or Super Bowl appearance. Still, America’s Team holds onto the title of the world’s most valuable sports franchise. Go figure.
Could Jason Witten be the Next Head Coach of the Cowboys?
With questions about head coach Mike McCarthy’s future — especially with an expiring contract — people have begun to try to connect the dots as to who will be the next head coach in Dallas.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked if he feels that former Cowboys TE Jason Witten would make a great head coach.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when asked on @1053thefan if he thinks former Cowboys TE Jason Witten could one day be an NFL coach: "Yes. Without hesitation. Yes. He has something that you can't draw up. He reminds me a lot of our other tight end who is head coach up there in Detroit…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 15, 2024
Jones responded, “Yes. Without hesitation. Yes. He has something that you can’t draw up. He reminds me a lot of our other tight end who is a head coach up there in Detroit [Dan Campbell]…”
But would Witten really be a serious candidate? Probably not…at least not yet.
Who Might be the Next Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys?
PFN Analyst Dallas Robinson looked at several coaches who could be the next one in line for the Cowboys. We’ve included snippets below — for the full analysis, head over to our 2025 Cowboys Head Coach Candidates article.
Bill Belichick, Former HC, New England Patriots
Bill Belichick figures to hold the most appeal for Jones, who hired Bill Parcells — Belichick’s longtime confidant, mentor, and cohort — as Dallas’ head coach in 2003. And as Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted in January, Belichick already has a “very solid relationship” with Jones thanks to the duo’s work at the owners’ meetings.
Mike Vrabel, Former HC, Tennessee Titans
Mike Vrabel went 54-45 as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach and won 2021 Coach of the Year before being fired in the 2024 offseason. Coaches with Vrabel’s track record typically don’t take an involuntary year off at the age of 48, and he drew interest around the NFL after being let go in Tennessee, interviewing with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions
Ben Johnson can become an NFL head coach the moment he wants to. The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator has interviewed for myriad jobs over the past few offseasons, while the Panthers and Washington Commanders seemingly wanted to hire Johnson as their HC.
Instead, Johnson stayed in the Motor City and continued working under Dan Campbell. However, if the Lions win the Super Bowl next February, Johnson might finally be ready to look for a head coaching opportunity.
Aaron Glenn, DC, Detroit Lions
Campbell might lose both of his coordinators this offseason. Defensive play-caller Aaron Glenn will undoubtedly join Johnson on the 2025 interview circuit and could hold an appeal for the Cowboys if they want to hire a defensive-minded head coach.
Just ask Lions players whether Glenn deserves to be an NFL head coach. The 52-year-old finished first in a 2023 NFLPA survey that asked players to rate their coaches.
Deion Sanders, HC, University of Colorado
Deion Sanders, Dallas Cowboys head coach. If Jones’ primary objective is keeping his team in the news, Sanders could be the obvious choice in 2025.
Sanders was a dominant cornerback for the Cowboys from 1995 through 1999, earning four All-Pro nods (three first-team) while winning Super Bowl 30. He’d join a group of successful former players who’ve returned to coach their teams, including the Lions with Campbell and the Houston Texans with DeMeco Ryans.
Joe Brady, OC, Buffalo Bills
What a whirlwind it’s been for Joe Brady in the last few years. Coming off a national championship season as LSU’s passing game coordinator, Brady became the Panthers’ OC in 2020 and interviewed for five NFL head coaching positions the following offseason.
Ex-Carolina HC Matt Rhule fired Brady midway through the 2021 campaign, but Brady rebounded, joining the Buffalo Bills as the QBs coach in 2022 before taking over for fired OC Ken Dorsey in Nov. 2023.
Kliff Kingsbury, OC, Washington Commanders
Although the Cowboys haven’t played the Commanders yet this season, Dallas will have an opportunity to see what its division rival is capable of in Weeks 12 and 18.
Assuming that Jayden Daniels and Co. keep dominating through the end of the year, the Cowboys might be interested in Washington OC Kliff Kingsbury, who’s put himself squarely back into the head coaching mix.
Todd Monken, OC, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Monken probably should’ve received head coaching interest after turning a Jameis Winston/Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense into the 12th-most efficient unit in the NFL six years ago. Since then, he’s won two NCAA titles as Georgia’s offensive coordinator and returned to the pros to coach 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
His age (58) will work against him, but Monken would bring the schematic flexibility that teams strive to attain. He’s consistently earned rave reviews from his players.
Brian Flores, DC, Minnesota Vikings
Brian Flores is a schematic problem solver. Tasked with revamping a Minnesota Vikings defense that was light on talent in 2023, the former Miami Dolphins head coach made it work by vacillating between big blitzes and dropping eight, showing certain coverages before rotating to a new look post-snap and generally confusing every quarterback his defense faced.
Flores has maintained his diabolical sense of scheming this season. No defense has been more efficient (-0.20 EPA per play) over the first 10 weeks of the year. Still, there are reasons to think Flores could have a hard time landing another head coaching job.
Jesse Minter, DC, Los Angeles Chargers
Looking for the next Mike Macdonald? It might be Jesse Minter, who replaced Macdonald at the University of Michigan before following Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.
The Bolts haven’t exactly faced a murderer’s row of opposing offenses through 10 weeks, but Minter has gotten the most out of a defensive roster that isn’t overly talented. The Chargers rank first in points allowed per game (13.1) and fourth in EPA per play on defense.