Cowboys Considering Surprise Former Player for Head Coaching Job

The Dallas Cowboys will have a new head coach next season after not bringing back Mike McCarthy. McCarthy entered this season as a lame-duck coach as the Cowboys were coming off a disappointing playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers last season.

Things did not improve for the team or McCarthy as the Cowboys finished with the third-best record in the NFC East (7-10) and missed the playoffs. McCarthy spent five years in Dallas, which will not be easy to replace.

However, owner Jerry Jones and Dallas’ front office now have the tough challenge of replacing McCarthy as other teams looking for head coaches have started the interview process. 

We don’t know who is on the Cowboys’ wishlist for head coach. However, it seems like Jones wants to bring a former player back to the organization.

According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, former Dallas tight end Jason Witten is considered a candidate for the head coach position. Witten is also expected to be on the staff in some capacity.

As you can imagine, Cowboys fans aren't enthusiastic about the idea of Witten becoming the team’s next head coach. Witten spent 16 seasons with the Cowboys, where he was an 11-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.

The former Cowboys tight end has no coaching experience, outside of being the head coach at Argyle Liberty Christian School, which is located in Texas.

Back in November, Jones was asked on 105.3 The Fan if Witten could be an NFL head coach and the Cowboys owner gave a surprising answer.

“Without hesitation, yes," the Cowboys owner said. "He has something that you can't draw up. He reminds me a lot of our other tight end who is head coach up there in Detroit right now.

"Jason is very sophisticated when it comes to understanding football and all the nuances, but more important than anything, he really does understand the physical and the mentality of being physical and that part of it. Without a question, he could become [an NFL coach]. He has [an] extraordinary work ethic. ... He can be a top coach."

Jones putting Witten in the same sentence as Campbell is interesting, given that the Lions' head coach spent five years with the New Orleans Saints as an assistant head coach/tight ends coach, and before that six years with the Miami Dolphins (offensive coaching intern, tight ends, interim head coach).

Therefore, even if Witten doesn’t get the head coaching job with the Cowboys, Jones could be laying the groundwork for him to have a position on the staff to get him to that next step.

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