NFL Insider Weighs in on Seriousness of Deion Sanders-Cowboys Rumors

With the Dallas Cowboys falling out of the NFC playoff race, there’s a lot of discussion on who will be the next head coach. Current Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is a lame duck after not getting an extension last season.

Some fans and analysts believe former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would be a good replacement for McCarthy, and someone owner Jerry Jones would love to hire. But the idea of Hall of Fame cornerback and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders jumping to the NFL to coach the Cowboys has been floated on TV this week.

However, Sanders has made it clear that he’s happy where he’s at, and can you blame him? The Buffaloes have played good football this season and are in the running to possibly win the Big 12 title.

The NFL is always intrigued by the concept of college football coaches coming to the pros. But Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr pours cold water on this idea and the continued talk about Sanders and the Cowboys.

"“There are college coaches who desperately want to come to the NFL, but I do not see there being an appetite for college coaches at the NFL level—despite the success of Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers this year. Even though USC coach Lincoln Riley’s name came up earlier in the year, as well as Ohio State’s Ryan Day, I have not heard the same level of excitement around those names as the season wore on. I have not been alerted to any seriousness regarding a Deion Sanders and Jerry Jones reunion.""

- Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr

If you are a Cowboys fan, you aren’t shocked by this piece of news as Sanders would be an out-of-the-box hire that Jones wouldn’t make. Jones is looking to win now and a guy like Bill Belichick or even Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson could intrigue him.

Outside of Jim Harbaugh, college coaches haven’t found success in the NFL recently -- look at Chip Kelly, Nick Saban, Matt Rhule, and Kliff Kingsbury. 

Nonetheless, the Cowboys’ head coaching carousel will be one of the most talked-about storylines this offseason if Jones lets go of McCarthy.

More Cowboys news and analysis: