The Dallas Cowboys head coaching job opening up has immediately grabbed a ton of eyeballs. While their status as America’s Team and the most profitable organization in the sport remains undenied, there is a solid roster available for whoever steps in next as well. As a result, several big-time names are showing their interest in the position, including Colorado Buffaloes sensation and Dallas legend Deion Sanders.
Even though it remains unlikely that Sanders will leave his spot with the Buffaloes, especially with his repeated insistence on wanting to continue in Colorado, he did express some interest in the position. And it turns out he isn’t the only Sanders in the family who thinks so.
Shedeur Sanders Is All Aboard Deion to Dallas Possibility
NFL insider Jordan Schultz was the first to report about the possibility of Prime Time coming back to Dallas, revealing that the coach and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had already been in conversation about the opening.
Then, Sanders would go on to confirm the news.
“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Sanders told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday night.
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“I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body, and the community.”
“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Deion Sanders told ESPN on Monday night. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team,… pic.twitter.com/OMossS9iOx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2025
While it remains uncertain if Sanders will join the team, his son and quarterback at Colorado — Shedeur Sanders — who might very well be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, quite liked the idea. He was clear in his approval, “I think it would be cool.”
Deion Sanders as Cowboys coach? ‘I think it would be cool,’ son Shedeur Sanders says https://t.co/t0qecyszT3
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 15, 2025
Dallas was unwilling to offer its previous coach, Mike McCarthy, a long-term deal to his liking. As a result, the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, and the team entered the offseason with a pivotal decision to make.
However, discussions around that decision are now unwaveringly going to involve Sanders. Given Jones’ propensity to keep the Cowboys at the top of the news cycle, going after Sanders was an easy way to ensure that. But it isn’t like Coach Prime comes without some pedigree.
In just two seasons, Sanders has given the Colorado program a complete makeover. In addition to going 9-4 this past season, the Buffaloes also produced this year’s Heisman winner in wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Both he and Shedeur are potential top-five picks in this draft cycle.
Given the pre-existing relationship between the parties involved, it wouldn’t completely be out of the realm of possibility that Sanders leaves his spot with the Buffaloes to come to the Cowboys. But, if anything, Jones’ dream of Dallas being the center point of discussion is once again true.
PFN Looks at Deion Sanders’ Potential in Dallas
Deion Sanders has a well-documented close relationship with Jerry 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.
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.