Welcome to the hunt for the new coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Good luck to the candidates. Mike McCarthy took a shot, but in five years, he couldn’t advance the franchise’s quest for a championship any better than his predecessors – including Jason Garrett, Wade Phillips, and Bill Parcells – so it’s back to square one.

As always, the situation promises to be dramatic. After a week of uncertainty during which Jones and McCarthy met to discuss a dismal season and the future, it culminated on Monday with McCarthy, 61, becoming available for coaching jobs as yet another prominent position opened in the NFL.

Wanted: Head coach for a team that hasn’t lived up to expectations. High-profile position linked to the NFL’s most valuable team. Attractive salary with numerous benefits. Must be prepared to work under the league’s most famous owner (and general manager). Must handle immense pressure to lead the storied franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance in 29 years (and counting). Final decisions on player acquisitions? Forget that. Comes with standout players like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons… along with significant salary cap challenges. Don’t forget about the fan tours at the facility; that’s part of the culture.

There’s an ongoing discussion about how appealing this job will be for elite coaches – if you caught Cowboys legend Troy Aikman’s comments on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” pregame show, there are serious reservations about that – but someone has to take it on.

Despite the perceived downsides, the allure of the Cowboys job being on such a major stage – as Parcells described the opportunity coming out of retirement in 2003 – will still draw attention, as there are only 32 such positions in the league.

McCarthy entered with a Super Bowl background, and although he got the best out of Prescott and gained the respect of the locker room, his time ran out. The Cowboys (7-10 in 2024, after three consecutive 12-5 seasons) fought hard for McCarthy at the end, even without Prescott, whose hamstring injury sidelined him at midseason. Compliments from Jones in recent weeks didn’t mean that McCarthy’s publicly expressed desire to stay were genuine hints after all.

In many respects, it feels like McCarthy’s fate was sealed a year ago when the Cowboys suffered one of their worst playoff losses ever to the Green Bay Packers. Last year, it seemed somewhat likely that McCarthy was set up to fail, given that his contract wasn’t extended. The Cowboys did secure top-dollar contracts for Prescott and Lamb, but these were finalized just before the season and later in training camp, leading to more drama. Moreover, the Cowboys struggled significantly during free agency – for instance, Derrick Henry, who wanted to play in Dallas where he owns a home, didn’t even receive a call, while Jones claimed they couldn’t afford him.

And look at Henry now. The Cowboys could have really benefited from his presence.

Ultimately, McCarthy wasn’t able to deliver the championship run that has escaped the Cowboys since the mid-1990s, when they last reached the NFC title game. The fact that his last, injury-riddled team was less talented than earlier rosters didn’t offer any leniency.

The notion that Jones couldn’t find a better coach will now be put to the test, while McCarthy, who was restrained last week when Jones denied the Chicago Bears’ request to interview him, is set to interview with…the Bears.

But who will be the right fit for the Cowboys now?

It’s nearly a certainty that Kellen Moore, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator, will be part of the conversation. Moore transitioned from being Prescott’s backup quarterback to becoming a coach with the Cowboys, and Jones thought so highly of him that McCarthy inherited him as the chosen coordinator and play-caller when he joined the team in 2020. Nevertheless, Moore moved on for a reason in 2023, and his first year with the Eagles – supported by Saquon Barkley’s standout season – has raised numerous questions about the effectiveness of the passing game.

Then there are potential candidates from the Detroit Lions: coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Every team with an opening is looking at these two crucial figures who contributed to Detroit’s emergence as a top-seed contender in the NFC playoffs. Johnson, known for his innovative offensive strategies that the Cowboys struggled against in October, is a highly sought-after name for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, Glenn’s reputation has soared as his defense has withstood significant injury challenges, including the fractured fibula and tibia of Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, which occurred during the game in Dallas. There’s also the advantage of familiarity with Glenn, who played as a cornerback under Parcells for two seasons with the Cowboys.

Timing, however, may impede Dallas from pursuing any of the coaches still engaged in the playoffs. According to NFL regulations, interviews with coaches from playoff teams can’t happen until those teams are out of the running – or after the Super Bowl. Had the Cowboys dismissed McCarthy last week, they could have held virtual interviews with those top candidates during a window that was available last week. Nonetheless, the potential for candidates remains – even if the Cowboys find themselves at a disadvantage due to the prolonged process of parting ways with McCarthy.

Yes, this is Jerry’s team. Therefore, you can never rule out a surprising move that could shake up the NFL landscape.

Hello, Coach Prime?

Numerous reports emerged on Monday indicating that Jones has already spoken with Deion Sanders about the position, with the Colorado coach confirming the contact. Stay tuned.

One thing is certain: Sanders has the poise for the spotlight. Given his past with the Cowboys during his Hall of Fame career (which includes a Super Bowl ring), there’s definitely a bond with Jones. In fact, nobody handles the Cowboys’ high-pressure environment better than Sanders, whose success in two seasons at Colorado has sparked ongoing speculation about his interest in an NFL coaching role.

Sanders seems to have relaxed his earlier stance on not wanting to coach in the professional ranks. He recently stated that he would be open to the possibility if he could coach his sons, star quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo. With Prescott receiving a lucrative contract extension in September, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL, it’s doubtful that Shedeur Sanders would end up with the Cowboys. However, a report last week in the Las Vegas Journal-Review suggested that Sanders has some interest in the Raiders’ open position. If he’s considering the Raiders, why not the Cowboys? Especially if he’s flexible about the quarterback situation. Plus, Sanders still owns a home in the Dallas area.

Regardless, Jones has maintained – dating back to Sanders’ time at Jackson State – that he viewed the Hall of Famer as a potential NFL head coach.

Other considerations to ponder: Would Jones lure Steve Sarkisian from Texas? Would he pursue Jon Gruden, despite the former coach’s ongoing lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell? Could he reach out to the Pittsburgh Steelers to discuss trading for the well-respected but troubled Mike Tomlin?

With Jones at the helm, anything is possible. Remember, he shocked the NFL in 1989 by replacing the legendary Tom Landry with Jimmy Johnson, and that move paid off. Then, after parting ways with Johnson in 1994, he brought in another college coach, Barry Switzer.

Have you heard the rumors about Jason Witten? Fans have been buzzing online about the idea of the Hall of Fame tight end, now starting his coaching career at Liberty Christian High School in Argyle, Texas, becoming a candidate.

Maybe Witten could become the next Coach Prime or find success like Dan Campbell, the tight end who transitioned into a coaching star. Keep an eye on that for the future.

With the current situation, the Cowboys are feeling an urgency that can’t be ignored.

Follow YSL News Sports’ Jarrett Bell on X @JarrettBell.