We have reported in this space our opinion that the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys – should Mike McCarthy not be re-upped for 2025 – should be “Belichickian” … a “task-master/drill-sergeant”-style boss.

Our reasoning? Under owner Jerry Jones, the Cowboys are quite a circus, and they don’t need another clown. Someone who commands respect and someone who believes in discipline and accountability would in our opinion fill a massive void.

And now that Bill Belichick is pulling a Rodney Dangerfield and going “Back To School” (maybe by literally choosing North Carolina over Dallas)? One of his experienced disciples, Mike Vrabel, is rising high on our list.

Vrabel played for Belichick in New England and in 2018 took over in Tennessee, where he led the Titans to four straight winning seasons and an AFC Championship Game but was fired last season after conflicting with then-first-year GM Ran Carthon.

Would Vrabel work at The Star? In terms of Dallas needing a tough-guy disciplinarian, it makes sense. But what about in terms of what Vrabel wants?

New York Jets insider Rich Cimini of ESPN recently noted that “Many people assume that Vrabel wouldn’t even consider the Jets because … he’s going to call up one of his mentors Bill Belichick and ask him his opinion of the Jets, and we know what Belichick is going to say.”

And of course what Belichick will do is “trash the Jets,” per Cimini. (Which sounds accurate). But the reporter added, “I’ve talked to people who know Vrabel, and he has told friends he would consider the Jets as a possibility as long as he likes the GM that they pick, so he says he doesn’t care what Belichick thinks, he’ll judge the situation based on its own merit.”

So what does that have to do with Dallas? Is sounds like Vrabel – who clashed with Carthon and with Titans GM Jon Robinson before that – might not to only want to mesh with his next GM … he might even want to have a voice in who that person is.

That, of course, would be very Belichickian of Vrabel, and if he harbors that desire? In Dallas, Vrabel might be able to mesh with owner and GM Jerry Jones. He would even be allowed the authority to be a powerful lieutenant here. (Contrary to the beliefs of “the casuals and the nationals,” Jones’ head coaches generally have plenty of power.)

But in Dallas, the coach doesn’t pick the GM. The GM picks the GM. And Jerry is the GM. … and of course in his own words, “There’s nobody that could (expletive) come in here … and be a GM any better than I can!”

In the end, should Dallas push out incumbent Mike McCarthy, Mike Vrabel fits here in many ways … if only GM Jerry Jones will allow him to fit.