5 Coaches Who Could Take the Cowboys to the Next Level

[Hawkeye0202]

Jason Witten will be the next Dallas Cowboys HC. Put the house on it.

I can def see this ........

 

[mmohican29]

Is that guy not the most overrated coach in college football?

Lanning isn't any better imho

 

[john van brocklin]

What do you think about this list. I agree a defensive minded coach would be a pleasant change and the direction we should go.

5 Coaches Who Could Take the Cowboys to the Next Level
October 11, 2026
by Cody Warren

The way this season is going could put the Cowboys in the market for a new head coach and coaching staff. With a veteran quarterback and established offensive talent, Dallas should be able to find a good offensive coordinator.

That being said, I want the Cowboys’ next head coach to have a defensive background. This would put someone in charge who can address the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, the defense.

I don’t want this to excuse the offensive inconsistency. I’m just tired of every coaching decision being what somebody can do for Dak Prescott.

1. Kirby Smart
2. Dan Lanning
3. Marcus Freeman
4. Bill Belichick
5. Nick Saban

These are coaches the Cowboys can’t assume are available. Smart and Lanning have long-term contracts, Freeman chose Notre Dame over NFL interest last December, Belichick is fine, for now, in North Carolina, and Saban loves retirement.

Much more: https://insidethestar.com/5-coaches-who-could-take-the-cowboys-to-the-next-level

Guys just stop!
You will get Shotty for the rest of his contract and you will like it!

 

[Gambit]

Not that I think it matters, here are a few names

Chris Shula
Robert Selah
Anthony Campanile
Vance Joseph
Ejiro Evero

 

[Bob-Lillys-War]

big mike took them to playoffs ...

oh wait he isnt here anymore , thx jerry

 

[ATXSRT]

Tomlin

He's not a Jerry kind of guy, if you catch my drift.

 

[plasticman]

Might as well be titled, "Five Coaches Who Will NEVER Work for Jerry Jones".

 

[XXLMike]

Kirby Smart is greasey
Hard pass

I’d go Sarkassian

 

[JoeKing]

What do you think about this list. I agree a defensive minded coach would be a pleasant change and the direction we should go.

5 Coaches Who Could Take the Cowboys to the Next Level
October 11, 2026
by Cody Warren

The way this season is going could put the Cowboys in the market for a new head coach and coaching staff. With a veteran quarterback and established offensive talent, Dallas should be able to find a good offensive coordinator.

That being said, I want the Cowboys’ next head coach to have a defensive background. This would put someone in charge who can address the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, the defense.

I don’t want this to excuse the offensive inconsistency. I’m just tired of every coaching decision being what somebody can do for Dak Prescott.

1. Kirby Smart
2. Dan Lanning
3. Marcus Freeman
4. Bill Belichick
5. Nick Saban

These are coaches the Cowboys can’t assume are available. Smart and Lanning have long-term contracts, Freeman chose Notre Dame over NFL interest last December, Belichick is fine, for now, in North Carolina, and Saban loves retirement.

Much more: https://insidethestar.com/5-coaches-who-could-take-the-cowboys-to-the-next-level

As we all know, there is no salary cap for head coaches. Back in the 1990s, when the Cowboys were relevant, Jerry didn't mind paying a crapload for the coach but now that his kids have more say about how their inheritance is spent, we get a guy like Schotty.

 

[75boyz]

Sleeper candidate….Dan Quinn

Not saying it should be, but he hits the Jerry requirements and could be fired this year.

And the other McCarthy coordinator Moore too.
Kellen Moore- Admittedly, that would be a quick trigger by the Saints organization but I was just adding to your Jerry requirements comment with Moore as a candidate.

 

[Acceptablename]

Sleeper candidate….Dan Quinn

Not saying it should be, but he hits the Jerry requirements and could be fired this year.

Doesn't give me much hope as a head coach

 

[jazzcat22]

Jimmy Johnson

 

[cowboyec]

☆mike tomlin,fmr steelers hc
☆sean mcdermott,fmr bills hc
☆brian flores,vikings dc
☆chris shula,rams dc
☆lincoln riley,usc

 

[cowboyec]

but i expect jerry to keep schotty for the remainder of his contract.
at best we might get a parker firing as def coord at seasons end.
which could quickly be upgraded if demeco ryans todd bowles or dan quinn get fired from their hc spots.
if not...jim schwartz could be the guy.
but if you told me our cheap owner/incompetent gm decides to keep parker also...i would not be surprised and expect it.

 

[thunderpimp91]

And the other McCarthy coordinator Moore too.
Kellen Moore- Admittedly, that would be a quick trigger by the Saints organization but I was just adding to your Jerry requirements comment with Moore as a candidate.

Yeah good point. My guess is Moore still gets another year even with a losing season, but stranger things have happened. Moore was clearly liked by Jerry though, and is familiar with Dak.

 

[Sully]

What do you think about this list. I agree a defensive minded coach would be a pleasant change and the direction we should go.

5 Coaches Who Could Take the Cowboys to the Next Level
October 11, 2026
by Cody Warren

The way this season is going could put the Cowboys in the market for a new head coach and coaching staff. With a veteran quarterback and established offensive talent, Dallas should be able to find a good offensive coordinator.

That being said, I want the Cowboys’ next head coach to have a defensive background. This would put someone in charge who can address the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, the defense.

I don’t want this to excuse the offensive inconsistency. I’m just tired of every coaching decision being what somebody can do for Dak Prescott.

1. Kirby Smart
2. Dan Lanning
3. Marcus Freeman
4. Bill Belichick
5. Nick Saban

These are coaches the Cowboys can’t assume are available. Smart and Lanning have long-term contracts, Freeman chose Notre Dame over NFL interest last December, Belichick is fine, for now, in North Carolina, and Saban loves retirement.

Much more: https://insidethestar.com/5-coaches-who-could-take-the-cowboys-to-the-next-level

The correct answer is : No one because Jerry Jones is the owner.

 

[KingCorcoran]

If the Cowboys are considering a change at head coach they would have to be making a decision on candidates right now. Jets, Colts, Eagles, Commanders and Buccaneers are very likely to make a change. Saints, Patriots, and Bengals possibly. Chargers, perhaps.

 

[JonesBoys]

Sleeper candidate….Dan Quinn

Not saying it should be, but he hits the Jerry requirements and could be fired this year.

That would be the Jerrah hire, think comfort here. He knows him.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I said it before Dallas hired Schottenheimer and I still contend Mario Cristobal is the answer. He's got the chops. Recruited by Jimmy Johnson and played for Dennis Erickson where he was on two National Championship teams. Had a short NFL stint before going back to Miami to work as an assistant to Butch Davis. Left to become the head coach at FIU and led them to their first Sun Belt Conference Championship. Left FIU to become Nick Saban's assistant head coach and offensive line coach and was part of two National Championship teams. Left to become the offensive coordinator at Oregon and was later named head coach where he had 4 bowl appearances with a 2-2 record including a win in the Rose Bowl. Left to become the head coach at Miami where he led them to a National Championship game last season and has the #3 team in the nation currently.

That Mr. Schottenheimer is what the resume of a Dallas Cowboys head coach is supposed to look like.

 

[8FOR!3]

Money should be NO OBJECT! This club is worth BILLIONS, so paying off a lame duck HC should be no big deal!

Hey it’s not my $10-20 million dollars. I’m just presenting that Kirby Smart is getting paid a lot more and that I don’t know if Jerry would be willing to pay it right now (not saying he wouldn’t and I know he can if he wants to.) Still I think it’s a pipe dream. Why would he leave Georgia?