Colorado Buffaloes HC Deion Sanders - LM Otero/AP
The Dallas Cowboys have let former head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract expire, opening up a vacancy at the position. Due to the high-profile nature of the organization, rumors have been swirling about potential candidates since Dallas moved on from McCarthy. This franchise is intending to head in a new direction, and the selection of its next head coach is a crucial step in that process. I’ve ranked the rumored Cowboys coaching candidates based on how well I believe they could lead this team to perform. While there are options outside of this list whom I would urge the Cowboys to consider, I’ve only included rumored candidates.
5. Brian Schottenheimer
Hiring Brian Schottenheimer would be a sign that no real candidates were interested in this job. Schottenheimer served briefly as the offensive coordinator of a failing offense behind the offensive-minded head coach that Dallas just moved on from. In no way does it make sense for the Cowboys to then promote Schottenheimer. He may one day be a great head coaching candidate, but he has never called plays in the NFL. I would truly be worried for this franchise if they made this hire.
4. Deion Sanders
The NFL media has been lapping up every drop of Deion Sanders-Cowboys buzz it can find. This would be a marriage between two attention magnets. While I do believe Deion Sanders to be a good college football coach and an excellent recruiter, I don’t see how his skillset would translate to coaching in the NFL. By all reports, Sanders has not yet been interviewed for this job. He may be a legitimate candidate, but the Cowboys seem to be moving further down other paths.
3. Leslie Frazier
Leslie Frazier has emerged as one of the surprise Dallas Cowboys coaching candidates. He reportedly interviewed for the position on Monday. Frazier has bounced around the league primarily as a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the last 20 years, including a stint as the Vikings’ head coach from 2010 to 2013. In his four seasons in Minnesota, he was only able to produce one winning season. Frazier has led successful defenses at various stops, but he doesn’t jump out as an exciting hire.
2. Kellen Moore
The potential marriage of Kellen Moore and the Dallas Cowboys makes almost too much sense. Moore played for the Cowboys as a backup quarterback before eventually becoming their offensive coordinator. He was seemingly pushed out of the role by Mike McCarthy and has cycled through offensive coordinator jobs with the Chargers and Eagles since. This season, the Eagles’ offense has been one of the top units in the league, characterized by an explosive rushing attack. However, I would attribute Philadelphia’s success more to their overwhelming talent than I would to Kellen Moore’s schematic capabilities.
1. Robert Saleh
Let me be clear: none of the rumored candidates for the Cowboys’ head coach position have me particularly excited. There is no cutting-edge innovator on this list. Personally, I don’t see any of these options as the savior of this struggling franchise. That being said, Robert Saleh has proven himself capable of forming an elite defense out of talented players. Dallas’ defense is fit with stars like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. If Saleh were to take over, I have little doubt that he could bring the best out of these players. With the right hire at offensive coordinator, Saleh could be the Cowboys’ best choice.
For more from Michael Haney, check out The Football Ranker
