Mike McCarthy has had a lot of success since taking over as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys but he's also been on the wrong side of some terrible losses. Just this year, they were blown out by the San Francisco 49ers and have struggled to pull off wins on the road in general. He's also been called out for some infuriating gaffes with clock management.
McCarthy's main issue, however, remains an inability to win in the playoffs. He's 1-2 over his first three seasons and has seen his team knocked out two years in a row by the 49ers. In each loss, Dallas was held under 20 points, losing 23-17 following the 2021 campaign and 19-15 this past year.
If they once again go into the playoffs and lay an egg, there's no telling what will happen. As it stands now, the rumors feel like white noise but if this high-flying offense has another disatrous finish, it might be a good idea to get familiar with some potential replacements. Here, we look at five possible head coaching candidates who could be in play.
5. Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans offensive coordinator
A fast-rising coaching candidate, Bobby Slowik is just 36 years of age but has been coaching since 2011. He spent his entire coaching career with Kyle Shanahan, working with him in Washington back in 2011 through 2013. He was an analyst with PFF for a few years before Shanahan brought him back to the coaching ranks in 2017.
Slowik was with the 49ers until this year when DeMeco Ryans brought him to Houston to serve as the Texans offensive coordinator. He guided C.J. Stroud to an excellent rookie campaign and got the most out of several wideouts throughout the year. If Dallas wants an offensive-minded coach who can match wits with Shanahan, this could be their guy.
4. Mike Macdonald, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator
Another young coach, Mike Macdonald is also just 36 years of age and has been coaching for more than a decade. After spending a couple of years as a position coach in high school, he made his way to the University of Georgia. He was there as a grad assistant and defensive quality control assistant from 2010 through 2013.
He got his break into the NFL in 2014 when Jon Harbaugh hired him as a coaching intern. He worked his way up through the ranks and was on their staff until 2020. During that span, he was a defensive assistant, defensive backs coach, and linebackers coach — having success at each spot.
He impressed the Harbaugh family enough that Jim Harbaugh hired him as the defensive coordinator at Michigan. They had a top-10 defense under Macdonald and not only won the Big Ten but even made it to the College Football Playoffs.
Macdonald made his way back to the NFL the following year when the Ravens needed to replace Wink Martindale. Macdonald has now been the defensive coordinator in Baltimore for the past two seasons. They've continued to be one of the toughest defenses in the NFL and it won't be long until he's hired to run a team of his own. Perhaps that happens in Dallas if they decide to make a change.
3. Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
There isn't going to be a coaching candidate list this offseason that doesn't have Ben Johnson's name on it. Johnson, who led an offensive resurgence for the Detroit Lions in 2022, was the hottest name this past year as well. However, he decided to go back to Detroit and all he did was make his name more prominent.
The Lions have been one of the best stories in the league as they won the NFC North for the first time. They're a very well-rounded team but their offense has been elite. They're top five in both yards and points and if they were in the race for the No. 1 seed until late in the year.
What's been most impressive is the way Johnson has gotten the most out of Jared Goff. He went from a quarterback who was widely considered a bust to someone who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in each of the past two seasons while boasting an interception rate under two percent during his time under Johnson.
The one concern with Johnson might be his salary demands. There were reports he wanted $15 million to take a head coaching job anywhere this offseason. His agent has come out and disputed those reports but he's going to be in demand and can ask for a lot. Jerry Jones has the deepest pockets in the NFL but he might not be willing to get into a bidding war for a coordinator with no head coaching experience.
2. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
We stick with the Detroit Lions and this time, highlight their defensive coordinator. While their defense overall hasn't been great, Aaron Glenn has earned the respect of players around the league. He was even voted as the No. 1 defensive coordinator to play for in an NFLPA poll.
J.C. Tretter, the NFLPA president, stated he hoped this would help owners look for coaches who aren't just great football minds but also great leaders. Glenn falls into each category and has ties back to Dallas.
Glenn had a 15-year NFL career which began with the New York Jets from 1994 through 2001. Despite being just 5-9 and 185 pounds, he made two Pro Bowls during that time. He then joined the Houston Texans in 2022 and played there for three years making another trip to the Pro Bowl. In 2005, he was reunited with Bill Parcells in Dallas.
During his two-year stint with the Cowboys, Glenn proved to be a veteran leader. He was 33 when he first signed and suited up for all 32 games with eight starts. He had 20 pass defenses and five interceptions, proving to be a savvy player despite being in his mid-30s.
Glenn played two more years after leaving Dallas and has been in the coaching ranks since 2014. He's spent the past two years with the Lions as their defensive coordinator and should be a coach before long.
1. Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator
It's hard not to think the rumors surrounding Mike McCarthy being on the hot seat don't have something to do with the interest other teams reportedly have in Dan Quinn. Hired as the defensive coordinator in 2021, Quinn completely changed the entire culture on that side of the ball.
For years, they were bullied on defense and needed to be bailed out by elite offensive performances in order to win. It was also infuriating to watch opposing teams throw the ball with ease while their defensive backs never created turnovers.
Under Quinn, they became an attacking defense that led the league in takeaways. Trevon Diggs led the league in 2021 and now they have DaRon Bland leading the way. Bland even set the record for the most pick-sixes in a single season.
On top of that, Quinn put Micah Parsons in a position to succeed by allowing him to attack the quarterback. Dallas fans might still have nightmares about the team passing on T.J. Watt in favor of Taco Charlton because they felt he was a better fit. Quinn took the best player and ignored the measurables — which would have had him playing linebacker. He let Parsons attack the quarterback and he's now a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Quinn, who was a former head coach and nearly won a title with the Atlanta Falcons, is going to get another shot. Jerry Jones might be worried he's more responsible for the success in Big D than McCarthy. If so, he could decide to promote Quinn and look for an offensive coordinator to take over for McCarthy's play-calling.