5 Mike McCarthy replacements for the Cowboys that aren’t Sean Payton

It’s no secret that Mike McCarthy hasn’t been a popular coach for the Dallas Cowboys. When he was hired ahead of the 2020 season, it felt as though Jerry Jones was reaching to the past (as he usually does) rather than trying to keep up with current NFL trends.

Now, one week into his third year with the team, McCarthy has proven that he can’t get his team ready to face true contenders. That has him squarely on the hot seat once again. We know that many are hoping Sean Payton will ditch his broadcasting career to return to the Cowboys, but that likely wouldn’t be until at least next season.

In this article, we will look at five options that aren’t Payton that the front office should keep an eye on.

5 Mike McCarthy replacements for the Cowboys that aren’t Sean Payton

5. Dan Quinn, DC, Dallas Cowboys

In 34 games, McCarthy is just 18-16 as the head coach in Dallas, but it would be much worse without Dan Quinn. The former Atlanta Falcons head coach joined the Cowboys as the defensive coordinator ahead of the 2021 season and completely turned the unit around.

Dallas went from a 6-10 franchise in 2020 to a 12-5 club last year. While it’s true they were without Dak Prescott for much of that season, they still weren’t winning with him since the defense was giving up points at will.

Even in their loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday night, Quinn did his job. While the offense, led by Kellen Moore and McCarthy, was awful, Quinn’s defense held Tom Brady and a stacked Tampa Bay offense to just 19 points.

Things might not have ended well with the Falcons, but Quinn has proven he knows how to get the most out of his defense, and with the right offensive coordinator, he could find success with a second shot as head coach.