The incompetence with which the Dallas Cowboys managed the Mike McCarthy situation is impressive even for their standards. In terms of the timing of McCarthy's departure, which became official on Monday, it could not have been handled any worse.
Jerry Jones spoke highly of McCarthy for how he navigated the Cowboys through a tumultuous season only to turn around and low-ball him at the negotiation table and prevent him from taking an interview with the Chicago Bears.
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The irony of it all is that McCarthy may end up with the Bears when the dust settles. Furthermore, the tea leaves suggest McCarthy was the catalyst to the parting of ways rather than the front office. Jones gave McCarthy all the leverage and he responded accordingly when he realized he wasn't going to get a viable offer.
It will be fascinating to track McCarthy's interviews and where he ultimately ends up. The more pertinent story, though, is whom the Cowboys target as his replacement.
The team obviously hasn't set any interviews quite yet, but it didn't take long for an early top candidate to emerge.
Former Cowboys OC Kellen Moore will certainly be in the mix to replace Mike McCarthy
NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport believes old friend Kellen Moore, now the Eagles' offensive coordinator, will be a name to watch once the Cowboys ramp up their search.
"Just based on the timing the Cowboys can't interview anyone on the Chiefs, can't interview anyone with the Lions," said Rapoport. "If they wanted to it's going to have to be a minute, they're going to have to wait. Kellen Moore, the Eagles offensive coordinator, would certainly be someone to keep an eye on. It's going to be a really interesting and intriguing coaching search for the Dallas Cowboys. I expect a more extensive one than the one they did last time which was not extensive at all."
If there is one thing the Joneses love more than experience, it is familiarity. Moore, of course, has a long history with the Cowboys. He spent two seasons with Dallas as a backup quarterback, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster. He is former teammates with Dak Prescott and several veterans on the team.
Not only did Moore's only playing time in the NFL come with the Cowboys, but he got his first taste of coaching with the five-time champs. He started as the QBs coach in 2018 before a largely successful four-year stint as the team's offensive coordinator before he was let go after the 2022 season.
That is part of what makes Dallas' inevitable interest in Moore a slap in the face to McCarthy. It was McCarthy who was the catalyst behind Moore's exit. The dynamic between Moore and McCarthy on the Cowboys sideline in Moore's final season was awkward, to put it lightly. It was apparent that they didn't see eye-to-eye and McCarthy wanted to take over play-calling. Much to the delight of Cowboys fans, Moore was relieved of his duties that offseason.
It is unclear if that decision burned a bridge with Moore, but that Rapoport and longtime Cowboys reporter Ed Werder have already name-dropped Moore as a potential candidate suggests Dallas will be lurking in the shadows waiting for the Eagles' season to end.
Time will tell if the interest is mutual.