Cowboys Rumors: Belichick, Jerry Jones 'Have a Close Relationship' amid McCarthy Buzz

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and legendary head coach Bill Belichick have "a close relationship," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport analyzed the Cowboys' coaching situation, which became a subject of uncertainty even before the team's 48-32 NFC Wild Card Round loss to the Green Bay Packers ended.

The lopsided defeat could spell doom for head coach Mike McCarthy, and many fans floated Belichick as the most logical replacement thanks to his six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Monday on SportsCenter that people around the NFL "are on high alert with this job." On Belichick, he echoed Rapoport's reporting and said the Joneses "have cultivated a good relationship over the years" with the 71-year-old.

The writing was on the wall with Belichick midway through the season. That invited plenty of discourse as to where he might wind up next if he wanted to continue coaching. Along the same lines, another playoff collapse was foreseeable for the Cowboys—perhaps not to this scale—one that would necessitate a coaching change.

In November, NBC Sports' Peter King wrote "the Cowboys could be in play" for Belichick and compared his prospective hire to that of Bill Parcells in 2003. Days after that published, The MMQB's Albert Breer said on The Dan Patrick Show the Cowboys and Washington Commanders were the teams "most connected" to the surefire Hall of Famer.

By Jan. 8, The Athletic's Mike Sando cited an NFC executive who labeled Dallas as a "sleeper candidate."

The logic behind hiring Belichick is pretty simple. He's one of the winningest coaches in NFL history and with the Cowboys, he'd inherit a roster that's built to win now. His arrival would be the ultimate tone-setter in that locker room.

However, there's also a clear level of risk.

While not tarnishing his legacy, New England's underwhelming four-year run after Tom Brady left could speak to how Belichick is no longer the same coach who won all of those titles. And for Dallas, doubling down on the present may be the exact opposite approach that's needed.

McCarthy isn't even officially out of a job, yet the speculation linking Belichick and the Cowboys is already into overdrive. While Dallas may no longer be in the playoffs, it's finding a way to remain the biggest story in the NFL.