The team will not bring back Mike McCarthy for another season as head coach. McCarthy’s deal will officially come to an end on Jan. 14.
“We will commence a search process immediately to hire the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys,” Jerry Jones said in a statement on Monday.
Here are a few names you should know for possible McCarthy replacements.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to be one of the hottest names on the coaching market this offseason.
Pros: Johnson led the explosive Lions offense to be the highest-scoring team in the league, putting up 33.2 points per game.
The Lions offense finished second in the league in yards per game.
Johnson’s creative play-calling has been credited with part of the Lions turnaround.
Cons: Johnson does not have any head coaching experience.
There is also a great deal of competition for the offensive coordinator.
Johnson has conducted interviews with the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars in recent weeks.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and coordinator Kellen Moore could be an option if they are willing to bring him back.
Pros: Jerry Jones, at one time, believed in Moore.
The former quarterback began to work on the Cowboys coaching staff under Jason Garrett and was kept on as offensive coordinator even after the Cowboys hired Mike McCarthy.
Moore has been a good friend on Dak Prescott and the two have put together strong statistical seasons together.
In Philadelphia, Moore (with the help of Saquon Barkley) seemingly cured the Eagles offense which struggled mightily at the end of last season.
Cons: One of the Cowboys’ big moves after the 2023 playoff loss was to part ways with Moore.
Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is a name that has come up for open jobs around the league.
Pros: Kingsbury has head coaching experience at both the college and NFL level, leading the Arizona Cardinals and Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn hired Kingsbury to run the Washington Commanders offense this year.
The Commanders’ offense under Kingsbury and new quarterback Jayden Daniels performed very well this season.
Washington was seventh in the league in yards per game during the regular season after finishing 24th in 2023.
Cons: While Kingsbury’s offenses have excelled at times, his overall record as head coach leaves a bit to be desired.
Buffalo Bills coordinator Joe Brady could be an option as well.
Pros: Brady’s offense has performed well in multiple stops.
He worked as an offensive assistant under Sean Payton with the New Orleans before catching the attention of the college football world as a coordinator.
Joe Brady was the offensive coordinator for the national championship-winning LSU Tigers in 2019 with Joe Burrow was under center.
In 2020, he went back to the NFL, first as a coordinator for the Carolina Panthers under head coach Matt Rhule and then as a coach and coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.
Cons: Brady does not have head coaching experience.
Brady’s success has come with high-caliber quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Josh Allen.
