Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he would not be making any coaching changes over the bye week, but depending on what happens over the remainder of the 2024 regular season, we could very well see the Cowboys make a big coaching change in the 2025 offseason.
Even before we saw the Cowboys struggling a bit on the field this season, there were rumors and rumblings that this team could end up making a change off of Mike McCarthy after this season since his contract expires anyway. McCarthy signed a five-year deal with Dallas back in 2020 and the team has obviously been quite good in the regular season (for the most part) but has not made nearly enough noise to match in the postseason.
The Cowboys would be arguably the most attractive job in the 2025 head coach cycle regardless of what other jobs become available, and you would have to assume they'd have their pick of the coaching litter with an established star quarterback in Dak Prescott, a superstar receiver in CeeDee Lamb, a defensive superstar in Micah Parsons, and the support from ownership to do what it takes to win.
So who could be the Cowboys' next head coach if not Mike McCarthy? Let's look at three of the top options.
1. Ben Johnson, Lions OC
Given the way the Detroit Lions have been playing the last handful of years offensively, I would expect Ben Johnson to be one of the most highly coveted and sought-after head coach candidates until he finally accepts a job.
And after turning down jobs the last couple of years, waiting for the perfect opportunity, you can't help but think the Cowboys would be exactly the type of job he'd be waiting for.
And the Cowboys got the full Ben Johnson experience recently, didn't they?
We've seen Ben Johnson take the Detroit Lions' offense and turn it into a juggernaut, it doesn't matter if they are running the ball or throwing the ball. They distribute the ball as well as any team in the league and there are few defenses in the NFL that seem to be able to keep up with it.
Johnson will be extremely coveted and the Cowboys should have a major advantage.
2. Bill Belichick, Free Agent
The idea of Bill Belichick being past his prime as a head coach in the NFL may have some merit. There are certain elements of the way Belichick leads a team that are bordering on archaic and not fits for the modern NFL.
With that being said, Belichick's track record as a head coach is legendary and speaks for itself. There is no guarantee that he would be coming out of retirement to coach in 2025, but if he does decide to put himself up for available jobs in the NFL, he would unquestionably be one of the top candidates for a lot of teams.
And for a team like the Dallas Cowboys that has struggled to win games in January, is there anyone better than Belichick to potentially break that streak?
The big question with hiring someone like Bill Belichick would obviously be which coaches would come along with him. What kind of offensive staff would he build? How long is he going to plan on coaching if he does come back?
Belichick may not be the best long-term option, but the Cowboys certainly have a window right now with Dak Prescott that can't be messed with. They need to figure out a way to get over the hump and Belichick knows what it looks like to build a championship team in the NFL, to say the very least
3. Bobby Slowik, Texans OC
Given the work we've seen Bobby Slowik and the Houston Texans do the last couple of seasons, it's not going to be a surprise when he's getting interviewed in the 2025 offseason by just about every team with a head coach opening.
And to leave CJ Stroud and the arsenal of weaponry the Texans have, Slowik is going to need more than just a rebuilding project.
The Dallas Cowboys give Slowik the chance to come in with established players on offense to continue running things the way he likes.
Over the last two seasons, the Texans have been one of the most improved teams in the NFL overall but especially offensively. We've seen the emergence of young quarterback CJ Stroud as well as players like wide receiver Nico Collins, who has been one of the best receivers in the NFL when healthy.
The Texans have the #1 red zone offense in the NFL this season and given the player development we've seen in Houston, you can't help but want some of that in Dallas. The idea of a coach like Slowik maybe even being paired with a defensive coordinator like Robert Saleh could make this an even more enticing option.
Aside from maybe some of the coaches like Bill Belichick or Mike Vrabel who have had actual playoff success, the Cowboys might want to keep their head coaching focus on the offensive side of the ball. That's where the Cowboys have already invested so much money, and getting someone whose expertise is on that side of the ball while pairing him up with an experienced defensive coordinator could be the ideal combination to get this team to winning football in January.
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