Cowboys Hiring Deion Sanders Could Help Keep Valued Coach Around
By Jovan Alford
The head coaching search for the Dallas Cowboys is surprisingly starting to heat up after the team parted ways with Mike McCarthy. The Cowboys will reportedly interview three candidates for the vacancy, including former Dallas and current Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
However, one candidate they haven’t formally interviewed yet but has created a stir in Dallas is University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. Sanders aka Coach Prime and the Cowboys reportedly had conversations earlier this week about the opening.
Sanders confirmed to ESPN that he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke, but still reaffirmed his commitment to the University of Colorado.
“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Deion Sanders told ESPN on Monday night. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team,… pic.twitter.com/OMossS9iOx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2025
If the Cowboys were to hire Sanders, he would bring a lot of hype and attention to the team, which is coming off a disappointing 2024 season. According to Cowboys insider Ed Werder, Coach Prime would “almost certainly” accept the Dallas job if he offered it. Werder adds that those around Sanders are encouraging him to pursue.
A potential Sanders hire could shake up the Cowboys’ coaching staff heading into next season, especially at the coordinator spots. However, Sanders could look to keep defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, as the two have a connection and are close friends.
According to Cowboys beat writer Josh Tolentino, Zimmer had nothing but great things to say about Sanders in late November.
“Deion and I are very good friends. I’m not going to speculate on any jobs or anything like that because I don’t think that’s right,” Zimmer said. The 68-year-old Zimmer’s contract expired at the end of the 2024 season.
From late November, #Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer on Coach Prime: “Deion and I are very good friends. I’m not going to speculate on any jobs or anything like that because I don’t think that’s right.” https://t.co/ucy0eF83fH https://t.co/gTZTAJpzjT
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) January 14, 2025
The longtime defensive coordinator and head coach returned to the NFL sidelines this season after last coaching in the NFL in 2021 with the Minnesota Vikings. Zimmer worked with Sanders as an analyst at Jackson State in 2022 and went with him to Colorado in 2023.
Dallas’ defense struggled this season as they gave up a lot of points (27.5 – second worst in the league) and yards on the ground (137.1 – fourth worst in the NFL).
The Cowboys’ defense dealt with its fair share of injuries, which stretched their depth thin. If Sanders gets offered the job and takes it, maybe he convinces Zimmer to return for another year.
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