The Cowboys entered the head-coaching market on Monday, but Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman suggested the team might not like what it finds.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” ahead of the Vikings-Rams wild-card game, Aikman discussed the Cowboys’ decision to let head coach Mike McCarthy become a free agent after failing to agree to terms on a contract extension.
His comments should worry Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“I love the Dallas Cowboys. I played there for 12 years. I wish them well,” Aikman began. “But to say that it’s a coveted job, I’m not sure I would necessarily agree with that.”
Aikman spent his entire 12-year career with the Cowboys, going 94-71 and winning three Super Bowls, including the franchise’s most recent in January 1996.
Jones, who serves as the team’s de facto general manager, could be the biggest hurdle to Dallas attracting top-flight candidates.
He dragged his feet signing wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott to long-term extensions last offseason, limiting the team’s ability to improve the roster via free agency.
The next Cowboys coach must deal with Jones’ circus, which includes unnecessary fan tours of player-designated areas, plus the enormous pressure of snapping the franchise’s championship drought.
It might be difficult for Jones to find someone interested in coaching in that environment. If it’s an unattractive job to arguably the best quarterback in franchise history, it could be even more unappealing to those with no prior ties to the Cowboys.
