"He would be the PERFECT puppet for Jerry": Fans react as former NFL player & HS coach Jason Witten gets considered for Dallas Cowboys HC job

The Dallas Cowboys are exploring head coaching options after parting ways with Mike McCarthy, whose five-year stint included three consecutive 12-5 seasons but yielded just one playoff win. Among the names generating buzz is franchise legend Jason Witten, fresh off a 12-1 state championship season coaching Liberty Christian in Texas.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in November that he thinks Witten can be an NFL coach "without hesitation." The owner discussed this on his weekly radio show, 105.3 "THE FAN."

The comments resurfaced in an Instagram post from MaxPreps on Wednesday, amid rumors for the Cowboys coaching job.

Witten, widely regarded as the best tight end in Cowboys history, has deep ties to the organization. As an 11-time Pro Bowler and the franchise leader in games, receptions and receiving yards, Witten’s familiarity with the Cowboys’ culture makes him a compelling candidate.

However, his coaching résumé is limited to the high school level, prompting some fans to question the potential hire.

One fan remarked,

“He would be the PERFECT puppet for Jerry. The Cowboys are doomed.”

Another noted,

“This is someone who could transform tight ends into a play style that gets them more involved.”

Image via Ig@maxpreps

Here is how other fans expressed their reactions:

"Hope he don’t fall for it,"

Image via Ig@maxpreps

"That’s because whoever coaches the Cowboys will only have certain control. Jerry knows he’s called the shots since Jimmy left,"

Image via Ig@maxpreps

If hired, Witten would follow a trajectory similar to Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions’ head coach and another former Cowboys tight end. Campbell entered the NFL coaching ranks as an assistant before becoming a head coach, a step Witten has not yet taken.

However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is known for bold moves and highly values loyalty and passion for the franchise —qualities Witten epitomizes.

Jones has prepared ex-player coaching profiles in the past. For instance, Jason Garrett was promoted from offensive coordinator in 2010 to the Cowboys' head coaching position.

Despite that, Witten may be a choice because of his lack of experience as an NFL coach, coupled with his strong leadership and detailed knowledge of the team.

Jerry Jones eyes Jason Witten for potential coaching role with Cowboys

Even before Jason Witten’s name was officially linked to the Dallas Cowboys coaching search, there were discussions about his potential coaching trajectory. According to Jane Slater, a Cowboys insider for the NFL Network, the organization previously explored an approach similar to the New England Patriots’ strategy with Jerod Mayo.

“Now we'll see if Jason Witten will still be at play here. I just don't know if that'll be in a head coach role,” Slater said on Tuesday. “But I do believe he thinks very strongly of Jason Witten and in his future as a coach. I just don't know in what capacity that'll look like.”

Although Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems to value Witten’s future as a coach, there is no guarantee he will offer him the position.

Drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft, Witten became a 2x All-Pro tight end. After retiring in 2017, he briefly joined ESPN’s broadcast team before returning to the Cowboys in 2019 and finishing his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020.