The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to say goodbye to Mike McCarthy.

The 61-year-old coach’s contract concludes on Tuesday. The Cowboys and McCarthy were unable to finalize a new agreement, which means both sides are expected to start fresh after five years of collaboration.

During his time with the Cowboys, McCarthy achieved a record of 49 wins and 35 losses over five seasons, boasting three consecutive 12-5 records in the middle of his tenure. Although the team made the playoffs in those seasons, they only managed to win once out of four games.

In his final season, the Cowboys finished with a disappointing 7-10 record, largely due to injuries affecting key players like Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons. McCarthy now looks to take the lead of his third NFL team while aiming for another Super Bowl title.

Meanwhile, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys will begin their search for a new head coach. Who are the top candidates they might consider? Here’s a look at some promising options.

Kellen Moore, Offensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles

If the Cowboys want to replace McCarthy with someone familiar, Kellen Moore could be a viable choice. He spent eight years in Dallas as both a player and coach, and served as the offensive coordinator for four seasons. Moore consistently helped position the Cowboys among the league’s top offenses, including a standout NFL season in 2021, when they led in points and yards per game. His knowledge of the roster, particularly players like CeeDee Lamb, could enable him to quickly implement successful strategies.

Moore’s debut season as a coordinator with the Eagles in 2024 was impressive. The team ranked in sixth place for offensive EPA per play with 0.1 and was fourth for running plays with an EPA of 0.09. He also guided Saquon Barkley to become a 2,000-yard rusher, suggesting he could unlock significant potential from players like CeeDee Lamb and Rico Dowdle in the upcoming years.

Kliff Kingsbury, Offensive Coordinator for the Washington Commanders

Kingsbury is another candidate from the NFC East who might attract the Cowboys’ attention. As the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, he helped rookie Jayden Daniels shine and led Washington to achieve the fourth-best offensive ranking in EPA for 2024, including a top rank of 0.12 in running plays.

Pairing Kingsbury with Prescott in an offense that highlights vertical strategies and includes players like Lamb, KaVontae Turpin, and Jake Ferguson could be enticing for the Cowboys. While his record as a head coach was modest (28-37-1), he may be more equipped to succeed in his second head coaching role.

The main consideration for Kingsbury is whether he would leave the Commanders right after helping them reach the divisional round of the playoffs. He might also be more interested in coaching the Chicago Bears, due to his connection with Caleb Williams.

Joe Brady, Offensive Coordinator for the Buffalo Bills

If the Cowboys are aiming for a head coach in the mold of Sean McVay, Brady could be their best bet. The 35-year-old took over Buffalo’s offense midway through the 2023 season, turning it into one of the NFL’s most dynamic and efficient units. By the end of 2024, the Bills ranked second overall in EPA per play at 0.18, while Josh Allen accounted for 41 touchdowns in a stellar MVP season.

Brady’s achievements extend beyond his time with the Bills; he was instrumental in coordinating one of the most prolific college offenses, leading the 2019 LSU Tigers to unprecedented success. He could assist Prescott in elevating his game as he approaches the later years of his career.

Ben Johnson, Offensive Coordinator for the Detroit Lions

Johnson would also represent a McVay-like choice for the Cowboys. At just 38, he’s established himself as a leading offensive strategist since stepping in as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Under his guidance, Detroit has maintained top-five rankings in points and yards per game during all three of his seasons in the role, notably developing Jared Goff into a Pro Bowl talent.

Johnson would maximize the potential of Prescott, Lamb, and other offensive assets, but he has approached job openings with caution in recent years, leaving it uncertain whether he’d consider joining Dallas under Jones’s leadership.

Liam Coen, Offensive Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Coen is another promising offensive talent for the Cowboys to evaluate. He has contributed significantly to Baker Mayfield’s standout season in 2023, guiding him to impressive stats including 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with a completion rate of 71.4%.

With roots in the Sean McVay coaching tree, Coen has a solid grasp of McVay’s system, utilizing pre-snap motions to signal defensive coverage and create advantageous matchups. His familiarity with this effective scheme makes him an appealing candidate for other teams seeking new leadership.

Brian Flores, Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings

Could the Cowboys consider a head coach with a defensive focus instead of an offensive one? Yes, and Flores might be the top candidate available. During his two seasons with the Vikings, he transformed their defense from one of the weakest in the league to one that finished third in defensive EPA for the 2024 season.

Following Dan Quinn’s departure and with Micah Parsons sidelined for part of the season, Dallas’s defense struggled. If Flores, known for his aggressive blitzing tactics and crowding the line of scrimmage, gains access to a talent like Parsons, he could significantly enhance the Cowboys’ defensive capabilities, making them a more formidable force once again.

Flores has shown that his defensive schemes can effectively translate across teams, previously having success with the Patriots and Dolphins. He also brings an impressive record, especially considering the challenges he faced during his first season in Miami with a struggling roster, making him a strong candidate at 43 years old.

Pete Carroll, Former Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks

Carroll is another defensive-minded coach the Cowboys may want to consider. He is eager to return to coaching and has extensive experience that could help the team move past McCarthy, who was a well-respected figure.

Carroll boasts a 170-120-1 head coaching record and led the Seahawks to a decisive victory in Super Bowl 48. He is known for fostering strong team culture and developing talented defenses; his prior relationship with Quinn could pique the interest of Jones and the Cowboys’ management.

Despite his upcoming 74th birthday, making him less viable as a long-term option, Carroll could effectively serve as a transitional coach, maintaining competitiveness and potentially steering the team towards a deep playoff run, similar to what he achieved with Russell Wilson in Seattle.

Jason Witten, Former Dallas Cowboys Tight End

There has been buzz about the Cowboys possibly pursuing Colorado coach Deion Sanders if they decide to go for a candidate without NFL coaching experience. However, Jason Witten might be a more plausible name that Jerry Jones considers.

Jones expressed confidence in Witten’s potential as an NFL coach during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, stating, “Yes. Without hesitation. Yes. [Witten] possesses something unique. He reminds me of Dan Campbell, our former tight end who is now a head coach in Detroit.”

“He understands the complexities of football extremely well. More importantly, he grasps the physical nature and mentality necessary to succeed. He has an exceptional work ethic, and without a doubt, he could become an NFL coach.”

While Witten has only four years of high school coaching experience, indicating he may not be the safest choice, there’s still a possibility that Jones might give him an opportunity.

Is Bill Belichick a Possible Candidate for the Cowboys Head Coach?

According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, there was a mutual interest between Belichick and the Cowboys, but the long-time coach was unaware that the position was about to open up.

“Belichick and his team didn’t receive signals through backchannel communications that the job would be available, which partly influenced his decision to accept a position at UNC,” Schultz noted on a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Belichick maintains a solid relationship with the Jones family.”

While Schultz refrained from definitively ruling out Belichick as a candidate, he also highlighted that both Belichick and Michael Lombardi indicated that the former Patriots coach intends to stay at North Carolina after accepting his new role there last December.