San Francisco 49ers or Dallas Cowboys: What's the Better Head Coaching Job?

The Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers were once fierce rivals and among the strongest franchises in professional sports.

Year in and year out, “America's Team” and the “Team of the 1980s” were NFC favorites, and with nine Super Bowl championships between them, the proof was in the pudding. 

From Joe Montana to Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, all the way to Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin and Ronnie Lott, these two powerhouses had some of the NFL's best stars.

Coached by Bill Walsh, George Seifert, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, the league's best coaching positions have typically been either in San Francisco or Dallas.

But given past years' worth of Dallas Cowboys head coach shuffling and Sunday's announcement that the 49ers had fired head coach Mike Singletary, what has become of two of the most prized positions in sports? 

In the always-turning state of the NFL, both positions have their fair share of pros and cons. Here's a breakdown of what each position could bring its next visitor.

San Francisco 49ers

Pros

• Clean slate: Besides running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis, no player on the San Francisco 49ers roster is safe. The next head coach of the franchise will have the opportunity to clean house and start anew.

• Ground game: Ranked 19th in the league with more than 100 yards per game, the San Francisco rushing attack is one of the more promising in the game. Led by Gore, the 49ers' ground game can control the clock and give the next head coach something to build on.

• San Francisco Treat: Is there a better place to live than San Fran? With a bustling economy, events, nightlife, friendly people and unwavering love for its football, the city is just a good place to be. 

Cons 

• Under center: Alex Smith has played well at times but still doesn't appear to be a legit starting NFL quarterback. Based on their years of success, it's vital for the Niners to find their man at QB.
• Pass Defense: The 49ers ranked 23rd in passing defense, allowing more than 230 yards per game through the air. While some coaches would see this as a positive challenge, the fact remains that these 49ers have trouble stopping their opponents.

Dallas Cowboys

Pros

• Star power: Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, Roy Williams. The Cowboys have a ton of athleticism and star power.

• Experience: These Cowboys have been oh-so-close in years past. While this season was certainly a mess, Dallas should quickly recover and become relevant once again in the NFC.

• Resources: From the deep pockets of owner Jerry Jones to the brand new state-of-the-art stadium, the Cowboys can offer quite a bit to their next coach.

Cons

• Jerry Jones: Any coach that takes over in Dallas should be aware. Strings are attached.

• Expectations: Given the resources and past history, players, fans and the owner expect one thing and one thing only from their head coach: winning.

• Defense: For all of the firepower Dallas could bring on offense, its defensive unit is suspect. Ranked 23rd in the league, the Cowboys defense could prevent the team's turnaround.