NFL Fans Eye Deion Sanders as Cowboys' Next HC After Mike McCarthy's Reported Exit

After NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that head coach Mike McCarthy isn't returning to the Dallas Cowboys following the expiration of his contract, Cowboys fans couldn't help but dream big about his potential replacement.

Fans took to social media in droves to call for the Cowboys to hire Colorado head coach Deion Sanders as their next head coach:

Sanders spent five years of his Hall of Fame NFL career in Dallas from 1995 to 1999 and earned his second Super Bowl ring in his first season with the franchise. Three of his six career first-team All-Pro selections occurred while he was a member of the Cowboys, as did four of his eight career Pro Bowl selections.

Dallas went 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 in McCarthy's final year as head coach. During the team's struggles throughout the season, there were rumors that Sanders would be a potential replacement for McCarthy, but he shot down that notion and said he intended to remain at Colorado.

"I'm happy where I am, man. I'm good. I got a kickstand down. ... I'm resting. I'm good. I'm happy. I'm excited. I'm enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, I truly do," Sanders said when asked about the rumors in November.

It appears that Sanders is now open to making the jump to the NFL, as Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Saturday that he has a "very strong interest" in becoming head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. However, The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed followed up with a report that said the Raiders had "zero interest" in hiring Sanders.

Perhaps the Cowboys will be more open to bringing in Sanders following his success with the team during his playing career, as the fans are desperate for some positivity following the team's disappointing 2024 campaign.