Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches warm up before the Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023.
The Cowboys indecision with McCarthy following the end of the regular season cost them a window to interview the Lions’ coordinators. As the No. 1 seed with a bye, their assistants were available the first week of the playoffs, but Jones wanting to low-ball and extend McCarthy meant they didn’t look elsewhere.
The Bears cast a wide net, interviewing Johnson among a dozen other candidates, and soon after Detroit was eliminated in the divisional round, he agreed to terms with Chicago before ever meeting with Jones.
The Cowboys face the entire NFC North in 2025, so this matchup is sure to draw attention.
Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles
Aug 17, 2022; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore reacts during joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys seemed to only have two genuine candidates under consideration, Schottenheimer and Kellen Moore, who was Schotty’s predecessor as Cowboys OC. Let go when McCarthy wanted to call plays, Moore was unavailable for in-person interviews as the Eagles have played the last three weeks leading to their Super Bowl appearance.
Reports are that Moore, who had a virtual interview, was really keen on coaching Dallas, so them making a decision before getting their chance to talk to him in person is going to likely light a rage. If he stays in Philly (only the Saints still have an opening), he’ll be able to extract his revenge twice.
Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
An oldy but goody, but there’s an alternate universe out there somewhere that the Cowboys decided that they’d seen enough of McCarthy following the 2023 season and promoted Quinn instead of letting him walk to Washington.
There’s also a world where the club saw what Kingsbury did with the Washington offense, and considered that after his failed stint as HC in Arizona, he looks to be the next “got it right the second time around” candidate.
Aaron Glenn, New York Jets
Jan 9, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn looks on during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Along with Johnson, Glenn was also available to be interviewed during wild-card week, but Dallas was busy. Now the former Cowboys DB is headed to New York to take over that reclamation project. Glenn led a resurgent Lions defense that went from league worst before his arrival to one of the league’s best in 2024 before a ridiculous avalanche of injuries ruined them down the stretch and into their playoff failure.
Still, if he can figure out a way to revive the Jets, that 2025 matchup will have a bunch of would’ve should’ve could’ve’s. The Jets are the Cowboys’ 17th game opponent in 2025.
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Jun 11, 2019; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll answers questions during a press conference following a minicamp practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Jones spoke to Carroll about the Cowboys’ opening, though no formal interview was made before he decided to take the Raiders job. The Super Bowl and CFB National Champion is 73, so it wouldn’t have been a long-term match, but the fact he was considered means there’s a storyline to be told when the two teams meet in 2025.
The AFC West is the Cowboys’ cross-conference matchup this coming season.
Other coaches of note: 2024
As mentioned with Quinn, the Cowboys could’ve chosen to go in another direction than McCarthy after being booted out the 2023 playoffs, but decided to bring him back in a lame-duck year that fizzled out early.
After years of flirting with the idea, Jim Harbaugh ran out of dodge ahead of NCAA sanctions after finally getting the Michigan Wolverines to the promise land. If Jones was looking for a big name replacement for McCarthy, Harbaugh would’ve been a huge splash and he could’ve walked into an even better situation than the one he turned around with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on during the national championship celebration at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
Another one to keep an eye on will be the progress of Dave Canales in Carolina. Canales was an interesting hire in Carolina and if the progress the Panthers showed down the back end of the season continues to trend the franchise early, he’ll be another opponent that can be thrown in Jones’ face. Carolina is the Cowboys’ NFC South opponent for next season.
