7 Potential Head Coaching Candidates for the Dallas Cowboys to Consider

The Dallas Cowboys are currently in a mess and are closer to the number one pick in the draft than they are to playoff contention.

The team needs a change in leadership, with Mike McCarthy failing to reduce penalties, improve play and generally make good decisions.

The Cowboys’ smart move would be to fire McCarthy now and start looking for their next head coach. Here are seven head coaching candidates the Cowboys should consider.

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The idea of ​​signing one of the most creative minds in football is even more appealing when you consider the Cowboys would lure him away from his current role with division rival Washington.

Kliff Kingsbury’s first NFL head coaching stint with the Cardinals wasn’t particularly successful, yielding just one playoff appearance in four seasons, but it’s fair to say he didn’t have the talent needed to fully execute his vision.

Kingsbury would provide the Cowboys with an offensive approach more in line with today’s NFL, potentially unlocking the Cowboys’ offense.

Although Mike Vrabel didn’t end his tenure with the Tennessee Titans on a high note, he still managed to lead the team to an AFC Championship appearance – something the Cowboys haven’t accomplished since 1996.

Vrabel’s 54-45 record at Tennessee is impressive, especially considering the limited talent surrounding Derrick Henry and Jeffery Simmons.

He knows how to win with a strong running game, and hiring him, along with drafting Ashton Jeanty, could be the boost the Cowboys need to get back into the playoffs.

Aaron Glenn has transformed the Detroit Lions defense into one of the best units in the NFL. Under Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys’ biggest weakness has consistently been their inability to stop the run, making Glenn an intriguing prospect.

He interviewed for multiple head coaching positions last season but did not land a role. Given the Lions’ success this year, it’s likely his head coaching availability will close quickly as he will almost certainly secure a head coaching job this offseason.

Ben Johnson is probably the most expensive and sought-after option for a head coach, making him an unlikely candidate for the Cowboys.

Even if Jerry Jones was confident that hiring Johnson for $15 million per year would guarantee at least one Super Bowl, it’s uncertain whether Jones would make the move considering how little he’s paid previous coaches.

It’s been a long time since Jones said, “There’s no substitute for winning,” and his focus now seems more on annual revenue than winning championships.

MORE: Why the Dallas Cowboys should avoid Ben Johnson as a HC candidate

Given the Jets’ recent performances, it’s fair to say that Robert Saleh’s stint with the team was more successful than it seemed. Although he was fired after a 2-3 start, the Jets have gone 1-4 without him, suggesting he wasn’t the main problem.

Saleh would be a strong head coaching candidate and an even better defensive coordinator, bringing the fire the Cowboys need right now. However, for Dallas to succeed, he will need to be paired with a great offensive coordinator to make up for what he lacks on the offensive end.

MORE: Robert Saleh should be the Cowboys’ next move

The last time Deion Sanders moved to Dallas, the Cowboys won a Super Bowl. As a former player, he understands what it means to be a Dallas Cowboy, with all the media attention and high expectations that come with it.

This experience makes him an ideal candidate for the role of head coach of the Cowboys. He has been through the circus in Dallas and emerged victorious, bringing the mentality and work ethic the team needs to succeed.

While he will need strong coordinators to back him up, Deion could be the leader the Cowboys players look up to and rally behind.

Who better to lead the Cowboys than a coach who has won six Super Bowls? While some believe the game has passed Bill Belichick by, it’s worth noting that he is only six years removed from his last championship.

However, he is still an unlikely candidate for Dallas as Jerry Jones is unlikely to give Belichick full control of the roster.

Belichick has always been his own decision maker, and he wouldn’t accept a role in which he is a puppet. Ultimately, it would depend on whether Jones could put his own ego aside to land Belichick.

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