Many members of Cowboys Nation breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick decided to return to coaching. After less than a year out of the profession, the current TV analyst who just so happens to sport two hands worth of Super Bowl rings (six as HC of the Patriots, two more as a Giants assistant) is back in the coaching ranks. So why would such news make Cowboys fans happy when Mike McCarthy hasn’t been let go? Many were concerned that his resume and the affinity of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to favor pedigree would mean that the now 72-year old would have the inside track on a vacancy with Dallas should it arrive as many expect it to come January. Jones has reiterated recently that it’s not set in stone McCarthy will be shown the door when his contract expires, and that may prove to be the case. That would be disappointing for many fans who want to see the team move in a new direction. Many had concerns over Belichick’s age and how long he’d be a viable coach, along with the fact that the Patriots offense struggled after Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. So with no Belichick on the table, here’s an updated look at the top candidates to replace McCarthy when the call comes in a few weeks. This week’s rankings includes a new face, Minnesota OC Wes Phillips. Honorable Mentions: Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Lincoln Riley, USC, HC | Last Week: Honorable Mention Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC | Last Week: Honorable Mention University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart | Last Week: Honorable Mention 13 Vikings OC Wes Phillips | Last Week: Unranked Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips walks on the field before a game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports OK wak with us for a second. Phillips has been instrumental in the improvement of Sam Darnold this season, and while Kevin O’Connell calls the plays, the biggest impediment to Phillips becoming a head coach is that he’s in the booth on gamedays and not down on the sideline. At 45, Wade Phillips son who was an assistant in Dallas for seven years to start his NFL coaching career (staying on with Jason Garrett after his dad was fired) has spent three years in Minnesota. If he were to make the jump, he’d need a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience by his side, but the idea shouldn’t be outright dismissed. 12 Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel | Last Week: 11 Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk Monday after having two losing seasons back-to-back. Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who was able to achieve strong levels of success in Tennessee with a veteran QB who wasn’t well regarded (Ryan Tannehill) prior to their time together. Known as a disciplinarian, pairing him with Dak Prescott would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator. Brian Daboll (NY Giants) and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals) would make ridiculously good fits as OCs for Vrabel. 11 Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore | Last Week: 13 Sep 26, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (right) laughs with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports One name that is rarely discussed but probably should be is the former heir apparent Kellen Moore. Moore was Jason Garrett 2.0; brought in to the coaching staff as a wunderkind who the Jones family thought a lot of. He carried over as offensive coordinator from Garrett to McCarthy. Being shown the door in 2023 after a playoff failure as McCarthy vowed taking back over play calling would take the offense to a new level. It did, for a year, before bottoming out in 2024, even before all of the injuries hit. Meanwhile Moore attached himself to Brandon Staley’s sinking ship in L.A. for a year, but has revitalized his reputation thanks to Saquon Barkley’s arrival in Phiadelphia. The Eagles are sitting at 11-2 with an offense that is focusing on running to set up the pass. 10 Minnesota VIkings DC Brian Flores | Last Week: 12 Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Will Flores get another shot at a head coach gig? He was dumped by the Dolphins in their owner’s “I’m rich I can do what I want” attempt to lure Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach. The revelation about trying to have a coach to tank games may have pulled the curtain back on the innerworkings of the league, but it likely didn’t do Flores much favor. What has though, is the job he’s done righting the ship in Minnesota with their defense. 9 Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik | Last Week: 8 Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on the sideline during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Slowik is immensely intriguing for several reasons. He just auditioned in front of Jones on Monday night and carved up a 77-yard opening play touchdown to announce his arrival. Slowik’s

Of course Stephen Jones is setting the stage for another inactive Cowboys offseason reidhanson 2024 was “The Season of Stale” in Cowboys Land. Not only did Dallas allow the vast majority of their internal free agents to depart unopposed, but the Cowboys turned up their noses at virtually every noteworthy outside option as well. Citing fiscal restraints as the reason, the Cowboys chose to fill their ever-growing list of needs with rookies and supposedly-opportunistic post-draft bargain finds. The results were rather predictable, with the Cowboys entering the season with enormous talent deficiencies at both ends of their once-impressive depth chart. The front office’s offseason inactivity was explained by Stephen Jones as a necessary step in order to afford high-cost re-signings like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Publicly available contract numbers begged to differ, showing multiple avenues to free up spending cash without resulting in crippling damage down the road. Alas, the front office stood strong and fielded a roster worthy of their efforts. With the Cowboys 5-8 and on track for their first losing season since 2020, there was hope the front office had learned their lesson, that fans have weathered the storm, and better days are ahead in the coming offseason. Based on recent statements from Jones, those hopes appear to be misplaced. “I think we knew we were going to have a challenge this year and next year,” Jones said of his ability to spend. “It’s going to be really, really tight because we still have some money left over from some guys who aren’t here today. And you’re going to have some other guys that won’t be here in the future that you still have their cap count.” The dead money Jones alludes to is certainly a concern. According to Over the Cap the Cowboys have $27,323,246 in dead money this season. It’s a noteworthy amount but by no means a number other teams haven’t dealt will. Based on a November report there are 26 teams with more dead money than Dallas. It’s not exactly the albatross Jones is making it out to be. Even if the Cowboys cut players like Terence Steele in 2025 and take on the dead money ramifications as a result, they’ll be in far better shape than the majority of the NFL. Simple adjustments to veteran contracts and a new contract to Micah Parsons could easily free up north of $100 million over the offseason. It would allow the Cowboys to properly build a roster around Dallas’ most talented players and do so without pushing too much money into the future. Of course, the front office would have to want to spend that money for this to be a reasonable option for them and based on past behavior and recent statements, there is no indication they want to spend money. The Cowboys are once again the most valuable franchise in all of professional sports so it’s understandable they Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!

Major injury to former 3rd-round pick will shake up Cowboys 2025 draft plans reidhanson It’s not often a critical December loss brought on by a botched special teams play in the waning moments of a game is only the second most terrible thing to happen to the Cowboys, but in the wake of DeMarvion Overshown’s season ending knee injury, that’s exactly what it is. The 5-8 Cowboys losing another game, in any fashion, is old hat in Dallas this year. 2024 has been a season to forget and even a recent two-game winning streak couldn’t vault the Cowboys into contender status. Losing one of the youngest and most exciting players to a significant knee injury is unquestionably the headline following Week 14. After missing all of the 2023 season to an ACL on his other knee, Overshown made it 13 games before a second, even more significant injury did the same in Year 2. The Cowboys were just starting to understand what Overshown could do as an NFL player. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound heatseeking missile established himself as the Cowboys second best pass-rusher, top run stopper and promising coverage man. Overshown was a man without a position in all the right ways. Reminiscent of Micah Parsons, Overshown served as the Cowboys not-so-secret weapon whose only limitation is the creativity of the coaching staff designing plays for him. With Dak Prescott and Zack Martin already sidelined for the year, the loss of Overshown serves as salt in an already festering wound in Dallas. Unfortunately, the bad news doesn’t end there. Tears to Overshown’s ACL, MCL, and PCL are said to threaten his entire 2025 season as well. The timing and severity of the injury isn’t something that a simple offseason can cure, and the Cowboys have to operate like their youngest and brightest star may not be back until 2026. The impact of this from a roster-building perspective is rather significant. As stated earlier, Overshown is a special player who serves multiple roles. The Cowboys can’t expect to fill those roles with just one player but likely need to target two or more in the draft. Linebacker, the position Overshown is technically listed at, is the obvious draft need for Dallas. Overshown was Dallas’ top LB this season and with Eric Kendricks likely to leave in the offseason, the Cowboys need to add new LBs in a big way this coming draft cycle. Even with the expected ascension of rookie Marist Liufau, the Cowboys need to find at least two high quality replacements through free agency and the draft. Overshown the pass rusher also needs to be replaced. He was Dallas’ second-best pass rusher this season and was on track to be No. 2 again in 2025 before the injury. Overshown was a pass rusher who could blitz from anywhere and could be moved constantly to exploit mismatches. It’s not something a traditional defensive end can do and it’s not something a normal LB can do either. It’s a role that’s not easily filled and frankly, may never get filled. With Overshown gone the Cowboys need to find a player with high end speed and sideline-to-sideline range, they need a moveable pass rusher, and they need a fearless run stopper. Best guess is it will take two draft picks just to partially cover the loss of Overshown this spring. With so many needs already on the docket for the 2025 NFL draft, this is terrible news for a team hoping to bounce back next year. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys become first sports franchise ever to reach $10 billion valuation Todd Brock The Cowboys, though not not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this season, will almost certainly extend their championship drought to a 29th year. Nevertheless, they are continuing their dynasty as the most valuable sports franchise on the planet… by far. Forbes has released its annual list of the NFL’s most valuable teams, and the Cowboys have come out on top for the ninth straight year, with a hefty margin separating them from everyone else. The team that Jerry Jones bought in 1989 for a then-record $140 million now has a valuation of $10.1 billion. That figure is up 12% from last year and makes the club the first franchise- in any sport- to hit a staggering eleven digits. Dallas was also the first team to reach the $5 billion threshold (in 2018) and the $6 billion mark, in 2021. To further illustrate how exponentially the NFL’s coffers have exploded in recent years, consider that even the Cincinnati Bengals, the league’s least valuable franchise for 2024, have now reached $4 billion, a number that was an unthinkable record when the Cowboys hit it… only nine years ago. The Cowboys’ current $10.1 billion valuation is $2.5 billion ahead of the second-ranked team, the Los Angeles Rams, and more than double that of 11 other NFL teams. Worth noting, though: that latter group of clubs includes Baltimore, Buffalo, and Detroit, teams that all have a much better chance of winning a ring before the 5-8 Cowboys… as well as the Kansas City Chiefs, who seek to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl this season. One has to wonder if Jones would trade a sliver of his valuation for some of the success those teams are enjoying this year. (The most jaded fans assume he would not.) [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] A further breakdown of the Cowboys’ $10.1 billion valuation shows that nearly $800 million in 2023 came from local revenue, meaning ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise, and other streams specific to the Cowboys. No other NFL team even topped $400 million. Almost four billion dollars of the $10.1 billion total is the Cowboys’ portion attributable to revenue shared among the league’s 32 teams. The size of Dallas’s market counts for another $2.27 billion. AT&T Stadium as a venue counts for $1.99 billion of value, and the Dallas Cowboys brand itself contributes $1.91 billion. That last number is especially impressive. No other NFL team comes even close to Dallas’s $1.91 billion; the New England Patriots have the league’s second-most valuable “brand,” at $694 million, but that’s still more than 2.5 times less than the Cowboys’. The Cowboys’ operating income is also tops in the league, pegged at $564 million; the Rams spend essentially half that, at $286 million. But they’re still turning an absurd profit. When Forbes first ranked the NFL’s teams by valuation in 1998, Dallas led the pack at $413 million. This year’s $10.1 billion represents a mind-boggling 2,346% increase. Try getting that kind of ROI on absolutely anything else. It’s no wonder private equity firms are scrambling to own even the tiniest crumbs of ownership now being offered by some clubs. But all of those astronomical dollar figures pale in comparison to the number that’s supposed to mean the most in professional football: five. That’s how many Super Bowl trophies stand in the lobby of the Cowboys’ team headquarters. That total hasn’t changed since 1996. Until it does, no matter how many digits and commas there are in this year’s bottom line, the word valuation has very little value whatsoever to Cowboys fans, who continue to wait for their team to make the cover of something other than a money magazine. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Winner: The Simpsons Cast LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Yvette Nicole Brown and Homer Simpson get photobombed by Bart Simpson at the Disney+ Official U.S. Launch Party at The Grove at The Grove on November 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) The NFL has generated some of the most watched programs for some time, and calculated risks such as the Simpsons-ized simulcast will be the reason the NFL continues its dominance over the other major American sports leagues. While it may not have been something a traditional viewer would watch, the graphics in between each play were entertaining as well as the in-game trivia that would stump even the most knowledgeable NFL and Simpsons fans. The entertainment value shown in cartoon form should be enough to get the next generation interested in the sport early. It should also generate ideas for future game enhancements. The XFL may have fizzled under Vince McMahon but the NFL did incorporate the sky cam after it was experienced within the defunct league. The in-person helmet camera view along with the grade school stories told by some of the players were among the best features that could spark future ideas to enhance the in-home viewing experience. Loser: Mike McCarthy’s Playcalling ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was gaining momentum on a potential extension in Dallas but his one-sided play calling may have the entire coaching staff updating their resumes. McCarthy failed to go with the hot hand in running back Rico Dowdle, who was averaging 7.3 yards per carry against a bad Bengals defense. With 10 days to prepare, failing to take advantage of one of the worst run defenses in the league is a big reason why the fan base is ready for change. Old habits die hard and Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush dropping back 31 times when he is averaging almost a yard and a half fewer on his completions (5.9 YPC) than Dallas was averaging on the ground (7.3 YPA) is exactly why Dallas needs a different philosophy. Dallas scores the second-least points in the red-zone among all NFL teams. The Cowboys had three such chances in the first half and came away with one touchdown; An 11-yard toss to CeeDee Lamb from Cooper Rush, and a Brandon Aubrey 35-yard field goal. To make matters worse, Dallas lost the ball in the red zone in that first half which was their seventh turnover inside the 20 which leads the league. Dallas is tied for 31st with 23 turnovers on the season. McCarthy was a nice upgrade over former head coach Jason Garrett but Dallas needs a more modern approach to keep pace in an ever-evolving league. Winner: Rico Dowdle Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) runs with the ball as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Ivey (38) defends during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Dowdle had his best rushing night of the season after carrying the ball 18 times for 131 yards. Dallas began the season unsure of who should be the lead back and Dowdle has unequivocally taken the role. Dowdle has given the Cowboys a reason to retain the former undrafted free agent who will hit free agency this upcoming offseason sans an extension from Dallas. He has a decision to make as the Cowboys continued failures to feature him as a lead back could backfire and provide the ammunition needed to get a larger deal with more opportunities elsewhere. In the meantime, Dallas still has a few games remaining this season and Dowdle could add a 1,000-yard rusher to his resume. With 731 rushing yards on the season, the NFL’s 21st-leading rusher could eclipse the coveted milestone if he can average 67.2 yards in the teams final four games. Loser: Cowboys Secondary Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) defends a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images For the first time since Week 2 of the 2023 season, Dallas suited up All-Pro cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland along with nickel corner Jourdan Lewis. It wasn’t enough to limit Jamar Chase and the Bengals passing offense as the former LSU wideout lit up Dallas catching 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Bengals QB Joe Burrow threw for 369 yards against Dallas. That is by far the most passing yards given up this season and only the second 300-yard passer Dallas has allowed this season. Lions QB Jared Goff threw for 334 yards back in mid-October. To be fair, Diggs was coming off an injury that has kept him out of the last two games while Bland is still working is way back after missing the first ten games of the season due to a broken foot suffered in training camp. Regardless, the secondary everyone had been itching to watch play together got torched for almost 400 yards. Winner: Team Tank Dallas Cowboys fans pose in the main theater on Thursday, April 25, 2024 for the first day of the NFL Draft in Detroit. With a win, Dallas would have closed to two games of Washington (8-5) for the final wild-card spot, with a win in hand and a second matchup to come. The loss places Dallas into a three-way tie with the Bengals and Saints, teams who have defeated Dallas at home this season, and Dallas now projects as the 12th overall selection. All three sit ahead of nine teams with four or fewer losses. While the team is currently positioned in the area where draft prospects such as Georgia’s edge Javon Walker or Missouri wideout Luther

Studs and duds from Cowboys heartbreaking loss include playcalling woes Mike Crum Fans, draft analysts, and some media might want the Dallas Cowboys to tank and lose as many games as possible to get a better draft selection. Still, the players and coaches are preparing, practicing, and playing to win these games, and they put themselves in a situation to do so against the Cincinnati Bengals. They looked like the 2023 team that played in AT&T Stadium early, getting a three-and-out on defense and then going down the field for an opening-drive touchdown. The defense made Cincinnati turn the ball over three times and held them to 20 points before a gaffe by the special teams unit with under two minutes left in the game. The offense ran the ball the best they had all season as well. To the credit of the coaching staff, many players were still playing like studs in a game in which they had only a two percent chance of making the playoffs. Unfortunately for the team, the duds allowed the Bengals to hang around and steal a game. Duds: Poor coaching ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) While most will focus on cornerback Amani Oruwariye’s muff after a blocked punt, Mike McCarthy made several bad decisions throughout the game that allowed Cincinnati to be close enough to steal it at the end. The main issue was the decision by McCarthy to put the ball in the hands of quarterback Cooper Rush instead of focusing on the rushing attack. The passing game produced only 4.9 yards per pass, while the run game was humming for 6.2 yards per play. Dallas only ran the ball 25 times compared to 31 pass attempts from Rush. Rico Dowdle ran for over seven yards per attempt but only got the ball 18 times. With just under six minutes left and the score tied at 20-20, Dowdle broke off a 14-yard run. McCarthy followed that up by calling three straight passes (all were incomplete) and punting the ball. It was a lousy game plan with poor execution and that strategy kept the Bengals in striking distance. Studs: Cowboys defense ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 09: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a penalty against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) The Bengals have been a juggernaut on offense, averaging 35 points per game over the last four games. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, possibly the best receiver duo, and running back Chase Brown, who averaged 124 total yards over that time. The Cowboys’ defense was beginning to play better, but their opponents were the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants, who’s offenses weren’t comparable to Cincinnati. The Dallas defense stepped up and gave the team a chance to win with their backup quarterback. They held the Bengals to under four yards a rush, forced a fumble, intercepted a pass, and made Cincinnati turn the ball over on downs. With two minutes remaining, Dallas forced the Bengals to punt, only allowing them to score 20 points and giving the offense a chance to win with a two-minute drive. The defense played liked studs, but the offense and special teams couldn’t get it done. Duds: Workload for CeeDee Lamb Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) reacts after a failed fourth down play against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images CeeDee Lamb is among the top tier of receivers in the league, alongside Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Ja’Marr Chase. He is at the top of the league in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, and the game started with the offense focusing on getting him the ball. On the first 11 plays on offense, Lamb had four targets for 71 yards and a touchdown. He had only three targets, two receptions, and 22 yards for the rest of the game. On the game’s final play, Lamb was wide open over the middle and was never even looked at by Rush. On the Bengals’ offense, Joe Burrow has a much better second option in Tee Higgins, but they still attack with a focus on their star receiver. Chase had a monster night with 18 targets, 14 receptions for 177 yards, and two touchdowns. Dallas has two impactful offensive players, Dowdle and Lamb, and neither made the impact they could have because they didn’t get the ball enough against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Studs: Offensive line ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 09: Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Tyler Smith #73 after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) The Cowboys’ offensive line seems to have five different starters to begin every game in the 2024 season. Terence Steele is the only offensive lineman with 100% of the snaps this year. They have eight players with over 120 snaps on offense, and eight have started a game. That is a mix-and-match situation not many teams survive. The Cowboys started Chuma Edoga at left tackle for the first time this season, and Brock Hoffman was starting again for Zack Martin, his third start of the year. The unit showed up well. Dowdle had 18 attempts for 131 yards, an average of 7.3 a carry. It was the best statistical game of his career. He had five runs for double digits and the offensive line held its own in pass protection. Cincinnati has one of the best pass rushers in the league, Trey Hendrickson, and Dallas

Cowboys 2025 head coach search should focus on future rather than the past reidhanson Ever since the Cowboys’ postseason implosion to Green Bay last January the head coach position in Dallas has been a topic for debate. Mike McCarthy, entering the last year on his deal, had been a disappointing presence since taking the helm in 2020. Hired to push a highly talented roster over the top, the Cowboys managed just one playoff win under McCarthy. While the Cowboys did manage three consecutive 12-win seasons under McCarthy’s leadership, each campaign ended in embarrassing playoff upsets where Dallas barely looked competitive. All this made McCarthy’s return in 2024 surprising and his departure in 2025 almost imminent. Yet amidst the current 5-8 season where the Cowboys have all but been eliminated from playoff contention, there’s been talk of McCarthy possibly returning. Players have voiced their support, media analysts have discussed the validity, and even Cowboys legend Troy Aikman has said he expects “Mike McCarthy to be back in 2025.” “Short of Bill Belichick, I don’t know who you’re going to bring in that has a better resume, “Aikman said via The Athletic. “I just feel that for a team that I really do not think is that far away…I sense that it’s a team that really believes in Mike McCarthy. I feel the locker room wants him back. I think he’s a really good football coach. I believe Jerry Jones thinks he’s a really good coach too.” If Aikman wanted to light a spark in the Dallas fanbase, then mission accomplished, because that statement hit the fanbase like a tanker truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant. Aikman’s take on McCarthy’s likeability is, by all indications, indisputable. McCarthy is a players’ coach rather than a disciplinarian. He’s familiar and he’s friendly. It explains the on-field mistakes and it explains the love from the players. He also stays in his own lane, which the front office certainly appreciates. Aikman’s take on his resume is also indisputable. McCarthy ranks 14th in all-time wins (although John Harbaugh and Sean Payton may pass him this season) and he has a Super Bowl to his name. Looking at the list of expected coaching candidates this winter, no one but Belichick can touch McCarthy’s resume. Most of the upcoming head coach pool consists of up-and-comers and schematic innovators, not old guys with illustrious resumes. The problem is Aikman’s looking at the young up-and-coming candidates as a negative and the various veteran retreads as a positive. It’s an odd take in a day and age where innovation is treated like gold and strategy is often all that separates the winners from the losers. Work experience and past success has value but only when that success also projects to the future. A major criticism of the Cowboys under McCarthy has been the simplicity of their offense. As one of the more transparent attacks, McCarthy’s offense has been resistant to the many tricks of the trade that newer coordinators have embraced. To conclude McCarthy is good today just because he was good in the past (which is what the resume reference implies) is a dangerous step to take. An up-and-comer replacement may carry more risk, he may be not as well liked by players, and he may step on the toes of the front office more often, but that might be what the Cowboys need to take that next step. McCarthy coming back might be a possibility, but not under the logic that he’s the best man for the job. Best resume? Yes. But best forecast for the future? No way. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs surprises local high school QB with national award Todd Brock A talented high school quarterback from the Dallas-Fort Worth area is in the midst of what could be a third straight championship run with an eye toward joining the Alabama Crimson Tide next fall. So when he was chosen this week to receive one of the country’s top honors, it was only fitting to have Trevon Diggs deliver the news. The Cowboys cornerback and Alabama alum showed up in Duncanville on Tuesday to surprise Keelon Russell with the trophy naming him the 2024-25 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. Leading the Duncanville Panthers to a 13-0 mark so far this year, Russell has put up 3,874 passing yards and a staggering 54 touchdowns, but the National Honor Society member also carries a 3.4 GPA and is a regular volunteer in the community with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Now the 40th Gatorade Player of the Year, Russell’s name will be alongside legends like Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Emmitt Smith, who were also once honored with the prize. In all, six winners of the award have gone on to become first-round draft picks in the NFL. Photo credit: Joe Greer/Gatorade “The Gatorade Player of the Year Program has a 40-year history of recognizing young athletes on their journey to greatness,” said Gatorade’s Anuj Bhasin. “Russell’s accomplishments have earned him a spot on the trophy alongside so many iconic athletes, and we can’t wait to see the legacy he will leave behind.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] He may be the No. 2-ranked recruit in the nation, but Russell and Duncanville still have unfinished business to attend to. The undefeated Panthers are set to play in the 6A Division I state semifinals on Saturday. Listed by MaxPreps as the No. 3 high school team in the country and the top-ranked team in Texas, they’ll square off against 14-0 North Crowley (ranked 9th in the nation) in a legitimate clash of titans. “This is a great opportunity,” Diggs told the Panthers team after their practice on Tuesday. “You worked hard, for sure. Putting your head down, working hard, you see where it got you. I just want you to keep that same mindset, especially going into college.” Diggs had words of encouragement for Russell, too, hinting that one Sunday in the not-too-distant future, he may be trying to intercept some of the youngster’s passes on an NFL field. “You’re a great player, that’s a great award,” Diggs told him. “You’re going to go far. I’m going to see you soon.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.