Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images Jason Witten could have been an heir apparent plan in Jerry Jones’ eyes. Tuesday marked the first full day in which the Dallas Cowboys were officially looking for a new head coach and little progress was made in terms of officially-reported things. It would stand to reason that the Cowboys are busy working the phones and formulating a plan for who their leader (aka the one who reports to their ownership) will be in the near future. At this point in time the closest thing there has been to a report of someone being legitimately connected was Deion Sanders. While it has not reached even the level that Deion’s name did relative to reports, another name that has been thrown out by various insiders so far in this experience has been one that Cowboys fans know well – Jason Witten. Interestingly, the last time we saw Witten affiliated with the Cowboys was right before the Mike McCarthy era began. He was not retained when Mike took over and left to play a season for the Las Vegas Raiders before getting into coaching. He has been at the high school level and has had success by way of winning a state championship recently, but with all due respect that is obviously not the NFL. Still though the idea of Witten continues to be floated out in an apparently-serious way and we have offered some thoughts on that in a general sense. Tuesday evening brought with it quite the report from NFL Network’s Jane Slater on the matter. After speaking on the Deion front and saying she has been trying to find out information on other names like Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Pete Carroll and Jon Gruden… she noted that it is possible that the Cowboys wanted Witten to be some sort of heir apparent to Mike McCarthy. A lot to unpack here. Been on the phone non stop here is what I’ve gathered from Deion to Witt to Kellen. Jerry is currently on a solo mission. No official interviews or calls even placed to some. Here is what I have gathered for you. #CowboysHCSearch pic.twitter.com/9OzVVwy7Cz — Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) January 15, 2025 “It’s been my understanding that Jerry has talked to Jason in recent weeks and I do believe that he was part of a plan that Jerry initially had when he was going to bring back Mike McCarthy. I think the plan there was to make him an heir apparent of sorts. Mike McCarthy sort of surprised him by deciding that he wanted to end these conversations, pursue something else, we can call it negotiations, contract conversations… whatever you want to call them. Now we’ll see if Jason Witten will still be in play here. I just don’t know if that would be in a head coach role, but I do believe that he thinks very strongly of Jason Witten and his future as a coach. I just don’t know in what capacity that would look like.” This is… something. As noted Witten does not have any coaching experience in either the collegiate ranks or the NFL. In that vein it makes sense to bring him in as someone who could learn at the foot of a different head coach, but it is also fair to understand Mike McCarthy not wanting to do that if that is ultimately what happened. It will be somewhat telling if Witten does ultimately wind up on the Cowboys staff, whether as the head coach or as the “heir apparent” to someone else. That would seemingly signal that the plan is in fact for Witten to ultimately take over. We will see.

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys officially have a head coaching opening, and their search is expected to get a little weird given the delayed timing of it all. That’s already manifested with the report of Jerry Jones talking with Deion Sanders, though it’s unclear how serious those conversations are. That said, if the Cowboys are looking to find candidates in unusual spots, there are plenty of under-the-radar coaches out there who could be diamonds in the rough. Here are 10 such names that the Cowboys should, at the very least, bring in for an interview. Broncos DC Vance Joseph The only coach on this list with prior head coaching experience, Vance Joseph has been around for some time. A former college quarterback at Colorado, Joseph transitioned to the defense when he began his coaching career and hasn’t looked back since. He served as the Bengals defensive backs coach for two years, working under ‘current’ Cowboys run game coordinator Paul Guenther, before running the defense for the Dolphins. That role led to him being hired as the Broncos head coach, though he was fired two years later. Rumors suggested that Joseph wasn’t allowed full control over his offensive staff in Denver, and the offense is ultimately what got him fired. Joseph returned to Denver as the defensive coordinator for Sean Payton and has turned the Broncos into one of the best defenses in the league. His side of the ball was a big part of the team’s playoff push despite an inconsistent offense led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Joseph is viewed by many as a sharp coach with a great defensive scheme who players universally respect. He’s interviewed for head coaching gigs a few times since being fired, and fits the profile of someone who would have more success the second time around after having learned a few things. Ravens STC Chris Horton Special teams coordinators aren’t often hired to be head coaches. In fact, there is only one sitting head coach who came from that background. But considering that coach, John Harbaugh, is fourth among active coaches in career wins and has a Super Bowl ring, maybe more teams should consider special teams coordinators. And where better to look than Harbaugh’s own Ravens team? Chris Horton is young, at just 40 years old, and he turned a short-lived playing career into what’s been a lengthy tenure with one of the NFL’s most consistent franchises. Horton was the Ravens’ assistant special teams coach five years before being promoted to coordinator, and he’s maintained a high level of play for that side of the ball in Baltimore. He’s also gotten a behind the scenes look at the way Harbaugh has replaced his offensive coordinator five times, his defensive coordinator four times, and transitioned from the Joe Flacco era to the Lamar Jackson era all while continuing to make the playoffs. Horton’s candidacy would heavily depend on his ability to build a staff around him, but he’s learned from the master of doing just that. If Horton can lure a good staff and also recreate the magic of the Ravens culture, it might be a winning formula in Dallas. Ravens AHC/PGC/DB coach Chris Hewitt Sticking with the Ravens for a moment, they’ve long been the model of defensive success despite cycling through coordinators fairly often. Simply put, the system for success on that side of the ball has become institutionalized in Baltimore, a rare ingredient in the modern NFL. One man who’s been around for much of that change is Chris Hewitt, currently their assistant head coach/pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach. Hewitt got his feet wet as a coach on Greg Schiano’s Rutgers teams in the early 2000’s, where he coached both running backs and defensive backs. Hewitt also assisted in the strength & conditioning and special teams groups. After internships with both the Browns and Eagles, Hewitt landed in Baltimore back in 2012, the year the Ravens won the Super Bowl. After eight seasons coaching defensive backs, he added the title of pass game coordinator. He added assistant head coach heading into this season as well. Hewitt has seen a long list of defensive backs have great success under his watch, and the Ravens have consistently been one of the best pass defenses during that time as well. In addition to having witnessed the way Harbaugh manages this team, like Horton, Hewitt is sure to at least have some valuable insights into how he might try to replicate that somewhere else. Cardinals DC Nick Rallis The youngest coordinator in the NFL at just 31 years old, Nick Rallis just finished his second season running the defense in Arizona. He’s a longtime confidant of Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, as the two worked together on Mike Zimmer’s Vikings staff before teaming up in Philadelphia and, now, Arizona. Like Gannon, Rallis is steeped in defensive schemes he’s learned from both Zimmer and Vic Fangio, two of the most respected defensive minds in the NFL. Rallis and Gannon work closely together on the Cardinals defense, but Rallis is the one calling the plays currently. The Cardinals defense hasn’t been anything special these past two years, but the team has been rebuilding each of those years. By most metrics, the defense improved in their second year under Rallis despite being comprised mostly of young players. Rallis is still very young and very new to coaching, but those who know him well have described him as a rising star. He is noted as a quiet but extremely confident persona who has a knack for communicating expectations to his players and holding them accountable. In a couple years, Rallis may very well be the next big name on the coaching carousel. The Cowboys could be early to the party, for once, by taking a look at him. Browns RB coach Duce Staley If the Cowboys aim, above all else, to find a coach who can be a figurehead for the team and set

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Everything with the Cowboys is a circus right now and the ring leader is the reason why. Recently, Jerry Jones showed off his acting chops by making an appearance in the Paramount hit TV show Landman. For those unfamiliar, Landman tells the story of the oil rig business that features a lot of mishaps, greed, and a little cartel thrown in for spice. It only seemed fitting for the show to have one of the most widely known real-life oilmen making a cameo in their latest episode. While Jones’ appearance wasn’t surprising, his performance was. Most of us know that before buying the Dallas Cowboys, Jones made his money in the oil business. In his scene, he goes on for three minutes about how he got started in the oil business and what it has meant to be able to spend his life working with his kids. Cowboys fans have had a front-row seat to Jones’ theatrics for years. He’s known for trying to be the main character in everything that’s going on. Sometimes his performances are over the top and create controversy because nobody is buying into his nonsense. However, during his scene in Landman, Jones delivers a very genuine and heartfelt message. Jerry Jones, being a decent actor, was not on my bingo card. #Landman pic.twitter.com/p2N5kYABan — Zande✊ (@KongoZande) January 5, 2025 To the outside observer, Jones’ performance probably surprised some people. This lifelong salesman nailed the scene as he gave an authentic performance that was very believable. While some will give props to Jerry for an admirable acting job, those of us who have been exposed to him aren’t seeing anything unusual. He can’t go too long without getting emotional and while he had a director and multiple takes to help him from stumbling on his words, we are no strangers to this type of performance. Jones did a great job in this scene because he was speaking from the heart. He wasn’t playing a character, but rather just being himself. He was sharing real-life experiences and the words came easy for him. For his day job, Jones is the most polarizing owner in the NFL. The Cowboys organization is always under scrutiny. Year in and year out, he and his son Stephen are vilified for not spending enough money to make the team stronger. They will never win any popularity contests in the state of Texas. On Friday night, they were showing celebrities on the Jumbotron during the Cotton Bowl and the crowd let Jerry have it. Even in his own house, he gets no respect. They just did a celebrity spotlight at AT&T Stadium. Every celebrity got cheers except… Jerry Jones Loud boos in Jerry’s World. — Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) January 11, 2025 Jones makes his bed and has never had trouble sleeping in it. While some of the things he’s criticized for don’t hold water, he’s done plenty to bring negative attention to himself. He fired Tom Landry. He couldn’t get along with Jimmy Johnson so they parted ways. He’s turned America’s Team into a Big Top Circus and makes money hand over fist while crowds of people continuously line up to watch. Good or bad, the Cowboys are the center of attention and always bring in the ratings. And all of this is because of Jerry Jones. He has set a precedent so strong that sports media outlets will run with every niblet that comes out of his mouth to make a non-story a story. Tours at The Star a distraction – boom, that’s a story. No curtains at AT&T – boom, that’s a story. Firing the coach? Keeping the coach? Wait, don’t tell us because that’s a story too! And if Jerry utters the words “All-in” that blurb’s enough to keep the lights on for an entire season. In-season, off-season, and all-season, Jerry Jones is a year-round performer. As we brace for what can only be expected as another uproarious offseason, we only have two options. Find a comfortable seat or watch something else. For a lot of us, the thirst for all things Cowboys is like crack. We can’t get off if. All we can do is grab some snacks and hope for a good show. Jones is always going to be the star of his own show. He bought the Cowboys for $140 million and now they’re worth $11 billion and he’s been right in the thick of things from the beginning. You can’t grow that type of investment and be convinced your meddling is a detriment. And no, it’s not just about the money. Jones is trying to win Super Bowls. While it’s been 30 years, Jones has won three Super Bowls. He did it before, and you have to believe he thinks he can do it again. It would be nice if the Cowboys could just be a normal team and not be in the news all the time, but that’s not the world we live in. We live in Jerry’s World. The best we can do is put on a brave face, look for the positives, and hope for the best. There will be good times and there will be times of adversity, but regardless of what times we’re in, the Cowboys will always be front and center because of Jerry Jones.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports The Dallas Cowboys came literally hours short of starting the 2024 season with a seemingly unprecedented ultimatum towards their future. Find the elusive success in the postseason that’s escaped them since 1996, or both head coach Mike McCarthy’s and quarterback Dak Prescott’s contracts would expire, leaving the option to start all over at the two most important positions on the team right in front of Jerry Jones and the front office. Instead, Prescott was given the richest contract in NFL history just prior to beating the Cleveland Browns in week one. This would be be one of just three wins in eight starts for Prescott, who was lost for the season after being injured against the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys finished 7-10 and a distant third to two division rivals still playing into the Divisional playoffs with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. On Monday though, still just eight days removed from their last game of the year, the Cowboys completed the journey of turning Prescott from an offseason bargaining chip to fortifying his place in the franchise’s new direction forward even more. Dallas chose to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy at the end of his contract, and with his departure most of his assistants who were also on expiring deals, including defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, are expected to be on the way out as well. The Cowboys are looking for an entirely fresh start from a coaching perspective, but the easiest non-negotiable thing that will be mandatory for the next head coach is working with Prescott still in place as the franchise quarterback. The same expectation was put on McCarthy to work with Prescott, which he did for five seasons, the first three of which he kept offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in place. McCarthy took over play-calling in 2023, and his two seasons as the voice in the QBs helmet offered the types of highs and lows the Cowboys chose to move on from in search of more consistency, and a sense of urgency to maximize Prescott’s talent on this new contract. In typical Dallas Cowboys fashion, the organization was slightly late to join the head coaching search game by letting McCarthy’s status drag on a bit. The Cowboys now join the Bears, Saints, Jets, Jaguars, and Raiders as franchises looking for their next head coaches. Only the Patriots job has come off the board so far, with a reunion everyone in the football world saw coming between former Patriot Mike Vrabel and New England. The other five teams still open all have completed or scheduled at least four interviews while the Cowboys are just getting started casting their net. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has already talked with the Bears and Jaguars and is scheduled to interview with the Raiders. Considered the top candidate by many, at least for a team like the Cowboys with a QB already in place, Johnson was also in consideration by the Patriots before hiring Vrabel. The Cowboys very initial search so far has brought up the names of two former players, both polarizing figures helping draw the constant attention the Cowboys seek towards them. They are Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and, a bit more obscurely, Jason Witten. At a point in time for the franchise where it has become more popular for former players like Troy Aikman to put the team down as opposed to lifting them up, saying things in-season like the Cowboys offense runs “terrible routes” and now on Monday that their head coaching vacancy “isn’t coveted”, there is validity to bringing in two successful former players to at very least interview for the position. Part of the Cowboys decision to move on from McCarthy may have been about overrating the culture and locker room aspects of his coaching ability, things that take a backseat on game days to calling plays which McCarthy did ineffectively in his final season. This is not at all to say that these qualities in a prospective head coach don’t matter, especially for the Cowboys as currently constructed with Jones in place as GM and owner. If the ultimate goal is still to win football games though, the Cowboys could do better than McCarthy, and are now wading into the waters of finding out how much better they can actually do without much of a life preserver. They are swimming at their own risk in the coaching free agency pool, unable to put their feet on the ground and talk to candidates like Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Kellen Moore, or Kliff Kingsbury until their respective seasons end. In the interim period before the Cowboys can consider some of these other coaching candidates, the idea of hiring a coach like Jason Witten should be embraced – or at very least received with a sense of openness – by the fanbase. It is the type of risk the organization has been averse to for decades, and one way or another could help them get closer on the ladder towards the “escape hatch” we mentioned with both McCarthy and Prescott from the start of this past fruitless season. Assuming Witten would not call plays, the Cowboys would have their fourth play caller for Prescott in ten seasons. As opposed to the flimsy way in which McCarthy talked about his culture-building only at times it suited him, going from a coach embracing championship expectations upon his hiring in 2020 to talking about his desire to continue “putting a program in place” at the podium following a seven-win season that fell way short of the playoffs, the Cowboys would get this in a more natural way with Witten. One of the most respected former Cowboys of multiple generations, Witten is also one of the most notable faces of the unfortunate way the Cowboys have wasted Hall of Fame level talent without playoff success for years. Should he be given the chance to speak on wanting to change this perception in Dallas, it would

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images It was more of the same for the Cowboys when it came to quick playoff exits. The wait is finally over. Mike McCarthy is not the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys anymore. He lasted five eventful years with three seasons in the middle when he took the team to the playoffs. On the outside of those promising seasons, his squad finished with a losing record, largely due to being without his starting quarterback, Dak Prescott. When McCarthy was hired to take over the team from Jason Garrett, the hope was that he would do something his predecessor couldn’t – advance past the divisional round. Sadly, the Cowboys’ playoff fate ended the same way it had before. With three shots at the playoffs, the Cowboys never made it past the divisional round. In fact, in two of those three playoff appearances, the Cowboys didn’t even make it to the divisional round. Despite more consistent regular-season success, they didn’t have it together come the postseason. Under McCarthy, the Cowboys were the no. 2, no. 3, and no. 5 seed. Twice they opened with home playoff games after winning the NFC East. Once they opened on the road traveling to Tampa Bay to face Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. Oddly enough, it was this Wild Card road game that ended up being McCarthy’s only playoff win as the Cowboys coach. The Cowboys were bounced from the playoffs in consecutive years against the San Francisco 49ers and then by Green Bay the following season. In all three of these postseason losses, there were moments when despair started settling in for the Cowboys. The team seemed outmatched. It wasn’t because they were up against a more talented opponent, but rather just being outplayed. The creativity wasn’t from Dallas. The blown assignments, however, were. Whether it was a slow death or a fast-and-furious beatdown, the Cowboys were sent fishing and left wondering where did things go wrong? In 2021 against the 49ers, they fell to 13-0 in the second quarter, and again 23-7 in the third quarter. The Cowboys couldn’t ever gain any traction and when they finally made a push, they ran out of time. Literally. The clock struck zeros before Prescott could spike the ball after a designed run. In just his first trip to the playoffs as their head coach, they had found a new way to have an embarrassing end to their football season. The following year they found themselves in a defensive battle with the 49ers. Unfortunately, the offense struggled and Prescott threw two costly interceptions. The Cowboys kept things close through three quarters, but San Fran took control in the final 15 minutes of the game. Whatever his Cowboys teams had to give, they didn’t have any fight in them down the stretch to get the win. What happened against the Packers in 2023 is hard to explain. Green Bay scored four unanswered touchdowns to go up 27-0 in the first half. When the Cowboys finally started scoring some points, the Packers quickly answered and always stayed too far out of reach. In his first-ever playoff game, Jordan Love almost had a perfect passer rating. Running back Aaron Jones scored three touchdowns. It was terrible. The game had an eerie similarity to their 2016 playoff matchup when the Cowboys hosted a Packers team who had also started the season 4-6, but then got hot and earned one of the final playoff spots. And like then, the Packers went ahead big early. Green Bay scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and took a 21-3 lead. However, in 2016 the Cowboys kept fighting and tied the game at 31-31 with just 35 seconds left. Sadly, this game had a bad ending as well, but at least the Cowboys fought their way back into the game. Not only did McCarthy’s team fail to get over the divisional round hump, in each instance, they just seemed to get worse as the game progressed. They weren’t figuring anything out. They weren’t making the necessary adjustments. They were just there. There to fall short again. The Cowboys will reset their head coach and another fella will get a chance to crack the code. Will things ever change? We don’t know, but maybe with another guy in charge, the Cowboys will be better prepared when the postseason rolls around.