Potential Candidates to Replace Mike McCarthy: Who Will Lead the Dallas Cowboys Next?
Mike McCarthy’s job security is a significant topic of discussion as the Dallas Cowboys struggle through a disappointing 3-6 season, compounded by Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury.
Attention is now shifting to who might be the Cowboys’ next head coach. While McCarthy is still under contract, his five-year deal is set to expire at the season’s end. This situation mirrors the Jason Garrett era, where owner Jerry Jones, despite managing the world’s most valuable franchise, refrained from prematurely buying out contracts.
Garrett began the 2014 season as a “lame duck” coach but secured a five-year extension after leading the team to a 12-4 record and winning the NFC East. He found himself in the same position in 2019 but did not receive an extension after posting his fourth 8-8 season.
Jones has continued this approach with McCarthy and his staff, whose contracts are up after this season. Current indications suggest McCarthy could face the same fate as Garrett in 2019.
So, who might the Cowboys consider in 2025? Jones added fuel to speculation by discussing former tight end Jason Witten as a potential future NFL coach during an interview on Dallas’s 105.3 The Fan.
“Yes, without hesitation,” Jones said. “He has qualities you can’t manufacture. He reminds me a lot of another tight end who is coaching in Detroit [Dan Campbell].”
Witten, currently coaching at Liberty Christian High School in Argyle (a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb), led the team to a state championship in 2023. While Witten boasts impressive playing credentials, he has no NFL coaching experience. Campbell, in contrast, had over a decade of coaching experience before taking the helm in Detroit, making Witten’s potential leap considerable.
Deion Sanders is another name that’s surfaced due to his success in college football. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, a former Cowboys player and coach, is also on Jones’ radar. Moore served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022. Kliff Kingsbury, the current Commanders’ offensive coordinator and former Cardinals head coach, is another possible option.
Bill Belichick’s name is perennially floated as a candidate due to his legendary status. However, it’s worth noting that he had losing records in three of his last four seasons in New England.
These potential hires will generate buzz and debate. And with Jones holding the final say, any of them could end up as head coach.
However, one candidate stands out above the rest—former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel is currently the favorite to become the next Cowboys coach and would be seen as a major acquisition. During his tenure with the Titans, he captured two AFC South titles and reached the playoffs three times in six seasons.
If hired, Vrabel would be the first defensive-minded head coach for Dallas since Wade Phillips in 2007. The Cowboys have previously experimented with an up-and-coming offensive mind (Garrett) and a seasoned winner (McCarthy), both with mixed success. Yet, the franchise is now 29 years removed from its last Super Bowl appearance.
Since then, the Cowboys have cycled through six head coaches. Perhaps the seventh could be the one to bring them back to championship glory.