After the Dallas Cowboys parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy after 2024's 7-10 season, the first name just about everyone thought of as a possible replacement was Colorado head coach and NFL legend Deion Sanders. Is Jerry Jones crazy enough to do it?
While this would certainly be a flashy move that could grab headlines, it seems more like an interesting hypothetical than something that is going to happen. Sanders has a few roadblocks in his way that will make it very difficult for Dallas to eschew other top names on the coaching market.
Sanders currently has an $8 million buyout with the Buffaloes, which is down from the $15 million buyout he had in past seasons. Not only would Jones have to turn down names like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to put his attention squarely on Sanders, but he would need to spend a big chunk of chance on top of what he would pay him in his Cowboys contract.
This is a very verbose way of saying Deion to the Cowboys isn't happening. Sanders putting out a statement himself denying any interest in the Dallas job may have finally slammed the door shut on this venture.
Deion Sanders' buyout will prevent him from joining Cowboys as head coach
Sanders has built winners at both of his collegiate stops. Jackson State was the preeminent HBCU program in the SWAC when he was there, and Sanders has helped a Buffaloes team that won just one game the year before his hiring achieve national prominence after an eight-win season.
The problem with Sanders in the pros, however, is his main appeal would be neutralized. In a league with a salary cap and even distribution of talent, Sanders won't be able to use his aura to recruit the best available players.
Sanders had previously mentioned the only way he would even consider coaching in the pros is if he could coach his son Sheduer, as he has done in high school and college. With Dallas out of his draft range and Dak Prescott locked in as the starter, that won't be happening anytime soon.
Sanders would certainly fit in with Jones' directive to always keep the Cowboys' brand at the tip of everyone's tongue with flashy moves, but the idea of paying almost eight figures on top of what would have to be a very expensive contract could be a bridge too far for even a team with seemingly unlimited financial resources.