Dallas Cowboys' Big Job: 5 Current NFL Assistants the Team Should Consider

With Wade Phillips finally being put out of his misery after Dallas' sickening performance in Green Bay last week, the Dallas faithful have already begun taking it upon themselves to appoint his successor.

While Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden remain at the top of many fans' wish-lists, here are a few guys who, if given a chance, may be ready to build their own legacies that would rival those of Cowher and Gruden. While it isn't likely Jerry Jones will consider handing the keys to America's Team to a coordinator after what happened with Phillips, here are five assistants (not named Jason Garrett), who, at the very least, deserve some consideration for the most high-profile job in the league

Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns

NFL Photos/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - 2009: Rob Ryan of the Cleveland Browns poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by NFL Photos)

The Browns may not be the best team in the league, but it is certainly no fault of Ryan’s. Ryan has put together a solid defensive unit during his tenure in Cleveland, despite having no elite talent to work with. If Eric Mangini gets the axe before the end of the season, Ryan may take the helm in Cleveland. But assuming he doesn’t, and assuming he has the coaching abilities of his brother, Jets coach Rex Ryan, there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t make a solid head coach in Dallas.

Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator, New York Jets

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

FLORHAM PARK, NJ - MAY 02: Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer of the New York Jets speaks to the media during minicamp on May 2, 2009 at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The son of NFL head coaching great Marty, Brian Schottenheimer’s name had been thrown around a lot the last couple of years whenever a head coach position opened up. He’s well-liked but also respected by his players and has run solid offenses in San Diego and New York during his career, and his work with quarterbacks Phillip Rivers and Mark Sanchez has been impressive to say the least.

Dallas obviously needs something of a change on offense, and that, coupled with Schottenheimer’s outstanding reputation as an excellent offensive mind and teacher of the game, is enough to make him a very intriguing candidate.

Gregg Williams, Defensive Coordinator, New Orleans Saints

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Defensive coordinator Greg Williams of the New Orleans Saints looks on against the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won 31-28

Williams regularly puts together one of the league’s best defensive units. While his 4-3 scheme could come as a culture shock for a Dallas defense that has long utilized the 3-4, Williams has enough defensive wherewithal to tailor a scheme fit for Demarcus Ware & Co. if the change in defensive philosophy were to prove difficult for the Dallas front seven to adapt to.

Mike Pettine, Defensive Coordinator, New York Jets

NFL Photos/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - 2009: Mike Pettine of the New York Jets poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by NFL Photos)

Along with Jets head coach Rex Ryan, Pettine runs one of the best defenses in the league and has an excellent track record as a position coach, particularly at outside linebacker, where he has coached some of the NFL's elite pass rushers such as Terrell Suggs—and where Dallas has some of the best talent in the league yet seems to be underachieving at the moment. His defensive know-how and the upbeat coaching style that has been so successful in New York give him the potential to be a very good hire for Dallas.

Leslie Frazier, Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings

Getty Images/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - 2008: Leslie Frazier of the Minnesota Vikings poses for his 2008 NFL headshot at photo day in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Getty Images)

While this hasn't exactly been the year the Minnesota Vikings had hoped for, Frazier remains one of the top DCs in the NFL. Like Schottenheimer, his name is tossed around often when head coaching jobs open up. While he may run a 4-3 scheme in Minnesota, that is most likely to play to the strengths of Minnesota's defense, which differ from the strengths of the Cowboys D. However, if Frazier were to get the job in Dallas, no doubt an excellent defensive mind like his would think up loads of new and innovative ways to help Dallas' defense get the most out of their abilities.