Cowboys’ top coaching candidate receives bad news

Getty Images

Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

The Dallas Cowboys will have a new head coach next season, but it’s unlikely to be Ben Johnson, who many consider to be the most coveted name on the market.

Johnson is currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Johnson orchestrated a potent Lions offense that ranked first in the league in scoring (33.2 points per game) and second in total yards (409.5 yards per game). His success has seen him emerge as a top candidate for head coaching roles with the likes of the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears.

Part of the Cowboys’ problem, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, is that by dragging their feet on the decision with Mike McCarthy, the team missed an opportunity to request an interview with Johnson. . If Dallas were interested, they would have to wait until the end of the season.

However, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter doesn’t think Johnson is off the table for the position in Dallas.

“I don’t think Ben Johnson will play in Dallas. I think Jerry has other ideas and I think Ben Johnson has other ideas. And I don’t think he’s the logical front-runner at this point. Don’t think that,” Schefter said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday. “He’s got a head coaching job. He’s earned it. You can’t do that in Dallas.”

The Cowboys have multiple interviews scheduled.

The Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy on Monday. McCarthy spent five seasons with the Cowboys, amassing a 49-35 record. However, after a 7-10 match, both teams decided to go their separate ways.

Dallas is playing catch-up and has several interviews scheduled. The Cowboys are eyeing Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Moore is preparing for a regional round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. However, he met with the team on Friday and is expected to be a strong candidate. He spent three seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022, and also played with Dallas as a player.

Deion Sanders linked to Cowboys

Deion Sanders is also a prominent figure with ties to the Cowboys, but no interviews have been scheduled. Sanders spent five stellar seasons with the Cowboys from 1995 to 1999, leaving his mark on the franchise during one of its most storied eras.

Sanders has had discussions with owner Jerry Jones, but no further progress has been made. But both Sanders and Jones are interested in exploring the opportunity further.

“About Deion Sanders: I’ve heard that if Jerry Jones offered him to be the Cowboys’ next head coach, he would almost certainly accept,” Werder tweeted Thursday morning. I was fascinated by the idea. ”

Sanders is currently the head coach at the University of Colorado in the college ranks. He made a huge impact in Boulder and is coming off a 9-4 campaign with the Buffaloes.

Another candidate that has been mentioned is Jason Witten. Although his coaching experience is limited to the high school level, Jones remains a highly respected figure in the football world.

JR DeGroote covers the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com. He is a graduate of Arizona State University and has decades of experience in digital media, including previous stints at SBNation and Bleacher Report. He has earned numerous state, regional and national honors in sports reporting and photography. About JR DeGroot