Michael Irvin reveals who he wants to coach the Cowboys (and it's a bad idea)

The future of Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was always going to be a footnote on the 2024 season. With the team's core and most of last year's roster returning, though, many believed it wouldn't become the center of conversation until the playoffs.

Sure, every Cowboys loss is analyzed on a national (and local) scale with a fine-tooth comb, but ultimately McCarthy was going to be judged by Dallas' playoff success, or lack thereof.

Well, with the team making a beeline for a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft now that Dak Prescott is officially out for the season with his hamstring injury, McCarthy speculation is running rampant.

McCarthy's seat is arguably the hottest in the NFL and everyone has an opinion on whom should replace him. Cowboys legend Michael Irvin is distraught by how Dallas' season has unfolded, but he has circled seemingly his top candidate to succeed McCarthy at the helm.

Irvin's idea is admittedly tough to wrap our arms around.

Michael Irvin wants Deion Sanders to be the Cowboys' next head coach

On an episode of FS1's Speak this week, Irvin made a not-so subtle remark to Colorado head coach and former Cowboys superstar Deion Sanders. Irvin lauded Sanders for his work at Colorado and made a clever segue as to why he could have success at his old stomping grounds.

“You’re encouraging people to be better than they really are [in Colorado] and can I segue with that because no place needs people to encourage people to be better than they really are besides Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys,” Irvin told Sanders.

Irvin isn't the first - and he certainly won't be the last - to recommend Sanders as McCarthy's replacement. ESPN personality and noted Cowboys cynic Stephen A. Smith pitched the idea on First Take, only he thinks Dallas should draft Shedeur Sanders on top of hiring Deion.

The allure behind Deion coaching the Cowboys is undeniable. He already has a relationship with owner Jerry Jones and his ability to motivate a locker room speaks for itself. He's turned Colorado into a national powerhouse. At 7-2, they're in contention for the College Football Playoff.

With that said, Deion to Dallas is a terrible idea.

Not all college coaches are destined to thrive in the NFL. Sanders is a great recruiter and motivator, but is he ready to navigate the ins and outs of coaching at the pro level? Would his ego translate to an NFL locker room? Would he be willing to cede influence on personal decisions? Are he and Shedeur a package? If so, the idea is dead on arrival being that Dallas just paid Dak Prescott.

We'd be happy to be wrong, but our hunch tells us that Sanders is best suited at the college level. If he feels he's reached his ceiling at Colorado, there are myriad powerhouse programs - like Florida State - that would back up the brinks truck to hire him.

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