Insider notes on Cowboys' HC search: Why Deion Sanders isn't a frontrunner and latest on initial 2-man shortlist to replace Mike McCarthy

Win or lose, the Dallas Cowboys are a team always in the news. That is no different at the present time for the organization known to many as America’s team. Yet now they are in the news for a different reason, as owner Jerry Jones must fill the head-coaching vacancy. And the name of Deion Sanders is front and center in the news, as Prime Time has spoken with Jones about the vacancy. So what do league insiders think about the chances of Sanders getting the job?

Little more than a year after deciding to keep Mike McCarthy and allowing then-defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to move on and coach the Commanders, a decision that surprised many after the Cowboys’ playoff disaster in 2024, Jerry Jones is looking for a new head coach.

McCarthy, who took over the Cowboys in 2020 and turned in three consecutive seasons with a 12-5 record starting one year later, was done in by prior playoff disappointments and injuries this past season. Despite his success during the regular season, McCarthy was 1-3 during the postseason and never made it past the divisional round of the playoffs. Further, disaster struck this season as after a slow start in the first half, quarterback Dak Prescott was lost to a significant hamstring injury that required surgery to repair.

Questions loomed as to McCarthy’s coaching future with Dallas as the season closed out, and it was a surprise when Jones refused a request by the Chicago Bears to interview McCarthy for their vacancy, only to fire him days later.

Oklahoma State v Colorado - Source: Getty

---

Where Dallas Cowboys stand with Deion Sanders

And as the names of top candidates made the rounds through the media came news that Deion Sanders, the 2011 Hall of Fame inductee who played with the Cowboys for five seasons starting in 1995, spoke with Jones about the job. Since then, talk of Jones potentially becoming the Cowboys’ next head coach has been in the news cycle every day.

Yet no league source I’ve spoken with believes Sanders is a realistic candidate for the job. Many say this is Jones working to keep his franchise at the top of the news cycle and get a lot of free publicity from what many believe is an idea too wild to believe. Even more tell me that Sanders is not close to being ready for an NFL head-coaching job. Sources say the main allure of bringing Sanders in would be the all-star staff that would be hired with him. As he’s down in Colorado, it’s expected Sanders would bring in big names, including a lot of former head coaches, to help him coach the Cowboys.

So who do league insiders believe will end up as Dallas Cowboys head coach if it’s not Sanders? Two names are at the top of everyone’s list: Kellen Moore and Jason Witten.

Moore, who was with the organization from 2018 to 2022 and presently resides as offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been on the short list of head-coaching candidates for teams needing one in the past. He was the four-year starting quarterback at Boise State before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions in 2012 and playing for six years in the NFL, three of them with the Cowboys. After his career as a backup quarterback ended, Moore quickly assimilated into the coaching ranks.

Dallas has requested permission to interview Moore for the job and league sources I’ve spoken with tell me he has a real good chance to be the team’s next head coach.

The other candidate people believe has a good shot to become the Cowboys’ next head coach is former tight end Jason Witten.

The Cowboys’ third round pick in the 2003 draft, Witten went on to have a brilliant NFL career, being named to the Pro Bowl 11 times. Yet despite his success on the field, as well as people in Dallas telling me Witten does have a realistic shot of being named the Cowboys’ next head coach, the choice comes with a lot of risk. His head-coaching resume is limited to Liberty Christian School, a private college preparatory institution located in Argyle, Texas. Witten has led the program to consecutive state championships since taking over in 2021.

It's going to be interesting the next week or so as Jones makes his decision. With Shrine Bowl practices set to start in Dallas on Saturday, January 25, and many of the football media in town for the event, it could get crazy.