Social media as it pertains to the Dallas Cowboys is an absolute war zone right now. The team was seemingly on the verge of hiring Brian Schottenheimer as its new head coach after he interviewed for a combined 10 hours over the last two days.
Longtime Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. went as far as to say the announcement would arrive no later than Friday, and as early as today. NFL insider Josina Anderson stoked the Shottenheimer embers by reporting that other candidates in the mix for the job were informed they won't receive a second interview.
It turns out, though, that Schottenheimer's appointment is far from imminent.
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram heard from a source that the search is "far from the end, I fear." Harris has reported from the search's inception that Schottenheimer returning as offensive coordinator - not head coach - is very much a possibility.
Well, Harris was back with a huge scoop just hours later, reporting Dallas has interest in former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (!). Per Harris, Carroll has had conversations with Jerry Jones, presumably about the vacancy.
Cowboys reportedly contact Pete Carroll about head coaching vacancy
While the Cowboys mull over Brian Schottenheimer’s two days of interviews with the team, @startelegram has learned that there has been interest in former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll and that he has spoken with Jerry Jones.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) January 23, 2025
Decision is in the hands of Jerry.https://t.co/xAvC7evOm6
"The Star-Telegram has confirmed that Jones has contacted former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll regarding the opening," Harris reported. "The conversation has been described as informal, although the interest is legitimate enough to be reported, according to a source. As of Thursday afternoon, there were no plans for a formal interview."
Carroll might not move the needle for some, but he is comfortably better than the alternative, which is seemingly hiring Schottenheimer. The irony of that is Carroll and Schottenheimer actually worked together in Seattle for three seasons from 2018 to 2020.
Schottenheimer was Carroll's offensive coordinator with the Seahawks and called plays in every season at the helm. It is within the realm of possibility that Jerry Jones wants to replicate that dynamic.
Carroll and the Seahawks mutually agreed to part ways after the 2023 season, but he is among the most decorated coaches in the last 20 years.
Now 73 years old, Carroll led Seattle to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014, including a victory in 2013. They could have won consecutive championships if not for Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepting Russell Wilson at the goal line late in the fourth quarter to clinch the win for New England.
Carroll owns a 170-120-1 record in 18 seasons as an NFL head coach. He also went 97-19 in nine years at the college level with USC. While he is a conservative coach relative to where the NFL is headed in terms of analytics and chasing points, he's won at every stop and his players love playing for him.
Hopefully, talks advance to the point that Carroll gets an interview. It goes without saying that he would inject some life back into a defeated fan base.