Ideal Head Coaching Fits for Cowboys If They Lose in NFL Playoffs, Fire Mike McCarthy
The Dallas Cowboys are headed to the postseason as the NFC East champions and the conference's No. 2 seed. It's the third time Dallas has made the playoffs in four seasons under head coach Mike McCarthy.
As such, one might assume that McCarthy's job is safe. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that McCarthy's job could be in jeopardy if the Cowboys suffer another early playoff exit.
"If the Cowboys play well in the postseason, McCarthy would have an excellent chance to keep his job," Schefter wrote. "But if they struggle and end the season with an embarrassing loss, as has happened in each of the past two years, then some say that change could come to Dallas."
Franchise owner and president Jerry Jones has done nothing to dismiss the notion that his coach's job is tied to the Cowboys' playoff performance this season.
"We'll see how each game goes," Jones said Sunday after the Cowboys clinched the NFC East with a 38-10 victory over the Washington Commanders, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Cowboys would presumably make a change only if they believe a clear upgrade is available. Getting a late start on the hiring cycle could prevent that from happening, but there are some intriguing options to consider for now.
Here, we'll dive into the logical coaching candidates who are most likely to be on Dallas' radar based on their track records to date.
Dan Quinn
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Let's start with the internal candidate, one with whom Jones is already plenty familiar.
Dan Quinn has served as Dallas' defensive coordinator since the 2021 season. During his tenure, he has helped forge one of the top defenses in the NFL, a unit that complements Dak Prescott and a talented offense perfectly.
We've seen Prescott and Co. perform well under former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and, this season, under McCarthy's direction. If Jones believes the offense can continue to thrive under a different play-caller, promoting Quinn and ensuring the defense doesn't decline would make plenty of sense.
As the Atlanta Falcons head coach, Quinn made the postseason twice and reached the Super Bowl once. That could be a relevant factor for Jones, as the Cowboys haven't even reached the NFC title game since 1995.
If the knock on McCarthy is that he can't get Dallas deep into the postseason, a coach who has been there and done that would be a logical option. Granted, that was the thought process behind hiring McCarthy in the first place.
Quinn is almost certain to get head-coaching opportunities elsewhere this offseason, too. He was a hot candidate in 2022, though he chose to stay with the Cowboys. The Athletic's Mike Jones recently speculated that Quinn is "likely moving on" this offseason after turning down offers last year.
If Jones believes that Quinn is integral to the Cowboys' success, promoting him would make sense. It might be the only way to keep him.
Ben Johnson
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If the Cowboys believe their offense isn't performing as well as it could under McCarthy, they might look to replace him with an up-and-coming offensive coach. Dallas led the league in scoring during the regular season, but results in the ground game and against playoff-caliber opponents were alarmingly mixed.
There might not be a hotter name among offensive coaches right now than Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The 37-year-old has worked wonders with the Detroit offense over the past two seasons, turning it into one of the league's most dangerous units.
The Lions finished the regular season ranked fifth in rushing yards, second in passing yards, third in total yards and fifth in scoring. Quarterback Jared Goff's resurgence and wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown's ascension to stardom both occurred under Johnson's direction.
Johnson's first offer may come before Dallas is finished with the playoffs, however. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Washington Commanders—who fired head coach Ron Rivera on Monday—have already requested interviews with Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
The fact that a division rival is already interested in Johnson could pique Jones' interest. Hiring a defensive coordinator like Glenn might not make sense with Dan Quinn already in the building, but Johnson could very much intrigue Dallas.
Bobby Slowik
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Bobby Slowik is another name to watch on the offensive front. The Houston Texans offensive coordinator has played a massive role in the team's stunning 2023 turnaround.
Last year, the Texans were a three-win team. This past weekend, they became AFC South champions with a 23-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts and a loss by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While head coach DeMeco Ryans will rightfully get much of the credit for that turnaround, Slowik's role can't be understated.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud would be the clear front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year if not for Puka Nacua's record-shattering campaign. Lesser-known players like running back Devin Singletary, receiver Noah Brown and wideout Nico Collins—plus rookie pass-catcher Tank Dell, before his season-ending injury—emerged as legitimate playmakers under Slowik.
Slowik comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree and served as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator in 2022.
"Bobby was as talented as anyone I've ever worked with," Shanahan said, per ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "I didn't want to lose him at all. DeMeco knew that he was special.
Shanahan disciples are frequently in demand, with Ryans and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel serving as the latest success stories.
Again, Jones and the Cowboys may want a proven head coach who has had postseason success, as they were when they replaced Jason Garrett with McCarthy. If they're interested in a bright young offensive mind, though, Slowik should be at or near the top of their wish list.
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Jim Harbaugh
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With the Michigan Wolverines preparing to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night, a return to the NFL probably isn't at the forefront of Jim Harbaugh's mind.
For everyone else, the opposite is true.
Harbaugh potentially returning to the pros has become a seemingly annual storyline—he met with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 and with the Denver Broncos last offseason—and it has reemerged this year. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Harbaugh will be "in demand" by "several NFL teams."
Could Dallas be one of those teams? It's difficult to believe otherwise. Harbaugh is about to play for one championship, and he wasted little time getting the same opportunity the last time he was in the NFL.
Harbaugh reached the NFC title game in his first season as the 49ers' head coach and made it to the Super Bowl the following year. If Jones wants a head coach who has proved he can yield fast results, Harbaugh is his ideal target.
There are potential obstacles to consider, though. Harbaugh has a standing offer for an extension on the table from Michigan. And while he is reportedly mulling an NFL return, he may already have a destination in mind.
According to Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Harbaugh is interested in a pair of West Coast teams.
"There is mutual interest between the Raiders and current Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh," Schultz posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. "I'm told Harbaugh wants to return to the NFL, and has'"a lot of interest' in the Chargers' vacancy as well."
It's not hard to envision Jones swooping in and making a play for arguably this year's hottest coaching candidate.
Bill Belichick
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Things are complicated with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. He's still under contract with New England, so he can't truly be considered a viable candidate for other openings until that changes.
"I'm under contract. I'm going to do what I always do," Belichick told reporters Monday. "As far as any decisions or direction for next year, way too early for that."
Given New England's disappointing 4-13 campaign, though, there has been plenty of buzz about the Patriots moving on from Belichick this offseason. According to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston, the Patriots decided to move on from Belichick following their loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany.
"I had that week made it very clear that a decision was made," Curran told Arbella Early Edition (h/t Hayden Bird of Boston.com).
If Belichick does become available, it's hard to imagine that Jones wouldn't be interested. While this past season didn't go well, Belichick is the most successful NFL coach of the current era. He won six Super Bowls with New England and two before that as the New York Giants defensive coordinator.
"Belichick to Dallas is my sleeper," one unnamed NFL executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando.
If the Cowboys want a head coach who has delivered sustained postseason success, Belichick is it. The big question is whether Belichick, who has long held personnel control in New England, would be willing to work with Jones, who also serves as Dallas' general manager.
When asked by reporters on Monday whether he'd be willing to relinquish personnel control with the Patriots, Belichick responded by saying "I'm for whatever we collectively decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team."
If Dallas could hire Belichick the coach and not Belichick the general manager, this could indeed be a pairing that works.
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