Bill Cowher: Will He Coach the Miami Dolphins in 2011?

Bill Cowher has let it be known that he is open to coaching jobs in the NFL next season.

Cowher retired in 2007, just one season removed from winning a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Currently, he is an analyst on NFL Today on CBS, but apparently that job is getting old.

With Cowher on the market, which teams will make an attempt to hire him? And will it be as a head coach or general manager? Or both? 

Miami Dolphins

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WASHINGTON - APRIL 4: Co-host Bill Cowher (L) and Hall of Famer Dan Marino during the NFL PLAYERS Gala at the Washington Hilton on April 4, 2008 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images for PLAYERS INC)

According to a source close to Cowher, the Dolphins are one of three teams he would consider coaching.

Like all three teams Cowher supposedly named, the Dolphins currently have a head coach.

The Dolphins will more than likely be looking for a head coach at season's end. Another year of failing to make the playoffs is unlikely to be seen as acceptable by an owner who paid over $1 billion for the franchise.

Cowher is the kind of big name that owner Stephen Ross would love to have coaching his team.

The Dolphins seem like they could be a likely destination for Cowher. 

Houston Texans

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HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 13: Head coach Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans walks off the field after losing to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime at Reliant Stadium on December 13, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Texans were another one of the three teams that Cowher said he would like to coach.

Of the three teams, the Texans are the team most likely to have a coaching vacancy. 

Gary Kubiak has taken most of the blame for the Texans 5-9 record in a season that began promisingly before losing seven of their last eight games.

The Texans and Cowher are the most likely pairing of any team.

New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Tom Coughlin, Head Coach of the New York Giants looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during their game on December 19, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Im

According to former players Cowher coached, the Giants head coaching job is Cowher's preferred one.

But will it be available? 

In four of his six seasons to date current coach Tom Coughlin has taken the Giants to the playoffs, and it looks like he might again.

One of those playoff appearances led to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.

At 9-5 it would be surprising to see Coughlin leave after the season. Organizations rarely fire such a successful coach; this isn't the Yankees, ya know? 

Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Interim head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys during a game against the Washington Redskins at Cowboys Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Cowboys are currently being coached by interim coach Jason Garrett.

Since he took over, the Cowboys have only lost two games, each by a field goal.

Garrett seems likely to be given a chance to coach this team as he has blossomed in his new role and inspired a team that looked dead under former coach Wade Phillips.

Cowher is a hard guy to not go after, but Jerry Jones likes to hire in-house, and I guarantee there is nothing he would hate more than to see Garrett beat him as coach of another team.

Minnesota Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Leslie Frazier looks on from the sideline against the Buffalo Bills at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Phot

Despite not being one of his preferred teams, could the Minnesota Vikings reel in Cowher?

Interim coach Leslie Frazier hasn't exactly done anything to shore up the job for another season, and it is likely the Vikings could be looking for a big name in the offseason. 

Frazier must prove his worth in the Vikings' final three games.

If he doesn't, expect the Vikings to go hard after Cowher knowing that he is possibly available.

He may not want to coach the Vikings, but money can change people's minds.

Television

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Television personalities Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher watch warm ups prior to Super Bowl XLIV between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami G

Bill Cowher is as good an analyst as there is on television.

Why mess with a good thing?

Cowher is reportedly upset that his contract dips to $750,000 next year in its final year.

Could he be using the rumors of him returning to coaching to up his salary?

Only time will tell, but being an analyst isn't too bad of a gig.

Working once a week, less stress, good pay.

I wouldn't complain.

Would He Prefer a Parcells-Like Position?

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 5: Bill Cowher stands on the field before the Baltimore Ravens game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 5, 2007 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Would Cowher prefer to be a general manager? A football czar? 

It's possible, despite the fact that he hasn't openly said so.

Having that kind of power over an organization would be appealing to anyone, especially a smart football guy like Cowher.

Can he find someone to offer him that kind of job, though?

I'm sure plenty of organizations would love to have him in that role, but if he limits himself to the Dolphins, Texans or Giants, he may not get that offer.