4 Head Coaches the Cowboys Can Target if Mike McCarthy is Fired

4. Jim Harbaugh

So far we've talked about NFL candidates who are both inside and outside of the Cowboys organization, but what about one who isn't even in the league at all?

Enter Jim Harbaugh.

The 60-year-old candidate previously coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014 but has been the head coach at the University of Michigan since 2015. Over the last nine seasons, Harbaugh has led the Wolverines to an 89-25 record while winning three Big Ten Championships and, most recently, the 2023 CFP National Championship.

While some football fanatics expect Harbaugh to return to Michigan, it's looking more likely that won't be the case. The Toledo, OH native has been seeing interest from HC-needy NFL teams and was already scheduled to meet with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, per Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper.

Although it's been a decade since he last coached in the NFL, there's no reason to doubt Harbaugh's ability to take the Cowboys to the next level. After all, he boasted a 69.5% winning percentage (44-19-1) across four seasons with the 49ers, which includes only losing by three points at Super Bowl XLVII.

With how talented Dallas' roster is, it's entirely possible that Harbaugh could reach those heights again, if not sore beyond them.

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