The 2025 offseason is approaching, prompting another round of drama for the Dallas Cowboys. After ending their five-season stint with head coach Mike McCarthy, who had a 49-35 regular season record and one playoff win since 2019, owner Jerry Jones is now in the process of trying to find a new man in charge.
The Cowboys have reached out to four different coaches so far. They have contacted Kellen Moore, who previously worked with the Cowboys from 2018 to 2022. Additionally they are in discussions with Leslie Frazier, the assistant head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and Robert Saleh, the former head coach of the New York Jets.
However, the most notable swirling in connection to the Cowboys' coaching job is Deion Sanders, who adopted the famous "Prime Time" moniker during his Hall of Fame playing career.
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Sanders played cornerback with the Cowboys from 1995-1999. During this time, Sanders collected two first-team All-Pro nods and one Super Bowl victory.
Although Sanders enjoys coaching Colorado, the speculations about him coming to Dallas are too loud, making it hard to believe that Sanders is actually set on staying in the college ranks.
Sanders and the Cowboys had a successful run decades ago and it seems like they are mutually interested in teaming up to get the franchise back to the mountaintop. While a captivating idea, there are many reasons why this pairing would not work.
Without further ado, let's discuss why Sanders is a bad choice to replace McCarthy as the head coach in Dallas.
Why hiring Deion Sanders would be the wrong move for the Cowboys
Deion Sanders would be hired for the wrong reasons
Plain and simple, Sanders would be hired not because he is the right man to coach the Cowboys. Instead, he would be hired because he would bring the most attention to the Cowboys. Many times reported as Forbes' most valuable sports franchise (December 2024), Dallas is all about the headlines. Hiring a man of Sanders' stature would be just another factor in Jones' thirst for continuous publicity.
If the priority is winning, then Sanders would not be the ideal choice. He is not the most qualified, well-rounded, or creative coaching candidate. Looking strictly from a coaching perspective, Sanders only has two years of experience playing against top-tier competition. Colorado's football program was a part of the Pac-12 conference in 2023 and began its Big-12 run this past year.
During those two years, Sanders' compiled a 13-12 record and he managed to win just one game against a top-25 team. There is just not enough evidence to support the idea that Sanders is the right coach to lead this team to a Super Bowl.
Deion Sanders wouldn't able to showcase his top attribute
Sanders is one of the biggest personalities in the world of sport. If he were to become the head coach of "America's Team," he would instantly become the most prominent coaching figure in the NFL. This would elevate his status above Jones, who is already the face of the franchise.
However, since Jones also serves as the general manager and has a hand in all aspects of the team, the clash between these two strong personalities could occur as quickly as a Fourth of July firecracker.
The primary conflict would revolve around team personnel. Sanders has demonstrated exceptional recruiting abilities, consistently ranking in the top 10 for recruiting grades over the past three seasons. He also played a significant role in selecting his coaching staff while at Colorado.
In the NFL, Sanders still can scout talent as he did in the past; however, he ultimately will not have the final say in decisions regarding who is drafted, signed in free agency, or involved in contract extension discussions. Would Sanders, the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year, be okay with Jones sitting out during free agency like he did last offseason? If the team struggles, who is the first to get the blame? There are just too many questions here.
Both Sanders and Jones are individuals who require full control, and it is unlikely they will be able to work together for long. Jones would not allow Sanders to be his coach; instead, he would continue to interfere in team management, like he usually does with every coach that comes through Dallas. But with an outspoken person like Sanders, this conflict would not be able to be kept quiet from the sports media world.
He would not be able to coach his son Shedeur Sanders
Sanders has consistently expressed his desire to coach his son, Shedeur Sanders, in the NFL. Currently, Shedeur is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft according to head draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. Sanders has had two successful seasons alongside his brother Shilo and was recognized as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year this past season.
With Shedeur a likely to be a top-10 pick in April, if Sanders wants to coach his son he would need to join a team like the Titans, Giants, Raiders, or Jets. All four of these teams, along with others near the top of the draft, need a quarterback change. However, none of these teams are considering hiring Sanders as their coach. Therefore, the extent of the collaboration between the Sanders family will seemingly end in Colorado and not continue in Dallas.
For this reason, what exactly can the Cowboys offer Sanders to coach the team other than an attempt to recreate some nostalgia? The team is committed to a costly contract with Dak Prescott and is NOT considering a trade. Therefore, if Sanders were to return to the NFL, he would need to focus on having Prescott as his quarterback.
This entire situation is difficult to understand and seems illogical for this football team. Having said that, history indicates that Jones and his team often make questionable decisions, so it's hard to predict what might happen next.
Sanders may not be the right choice, but ultimately, Jones will do what he decides is best and usually, it ends up in turmoil.