It is only a matter of time until the Dallas Cowboys' search for a new head coach heats up. Jerry Jones is reportedly working the back-channels on potential candidates, so fans can expect the search to take on a life of its own before long.
That process started on Thursday with a bang when the Cowboys requested an interview with ex-Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
While Saleh owns a lowly 20-36 record as a head coach, he got an extremely raw deal in New York. It can be argued that he's best served as a defensive coordinator. However, he is a natural leader, a brilliant defensive mind and has ties to Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur. Those connections may allow Saleh to bring in a strong offensive coordinator.
All things considered, Dallas could have done a lot worse with its first interview. We know Deion Sanders is connected to the vacancy, but a third name entered the mix late Wednesday in the form of a longtime defensive coordinator who has not been a head coach in over a decade.
Cowboys set to interview Leslie Frazier for head coaching vacancy
According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys are set to interview Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared that Frazier is scheduled to meet with Dallas on Monday. Saleh is set to interview on Friday, so Saleh will be the team's first official interview.
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It is hard not to be underwhelmed by this news. Frazier's only experience as an NFL head coach came with the Minnesota Vikings more than 10 years ago (2010-13). He reached the playoffs in 2012, but got bounced in the first round. Frazier amassed a 21-31-1 record in three-plus seasons.
Frazier has since served as a defensive coordinator with the Buccaneers (2014-15) and Bills (2017-2022), as well as the Ravens' secondary coach in 2016.
All told, it would be absolutely stunning if the Cowboys hire Frazier. We hate to speculate, but this feels a lot like when Jerry Jones interviewed Marvin Lewis in 2020. Lewis was interviewed as part of the NFL's Rooney Rule that requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates for vacant head coach, general manager and coordinator positions.
While Frazier and Saleh both satisfy that requirement and Frazier has an extensive track record of success as a DC, Saleh seems to have markedly better odds of landing the job.
While Jones is notorious for overvaluing coaches with past experience, it has been over a decade since Frazier's been a head coach in the league. Rex Ryan was a head coach more recently (in 2016) and folks view his interview with the Jets as a total farce.
Granted, Frazier has more respect around the NFL, but the point stands: this news is not an encouraging sign of what's to come from this coaching search.