The Dallas Cowboys made the decision to move on from Mike McCarthy earlier this week, beginning a coaching search that has seemingly cast a wide net for candidates. The targets include some expected names like Robert Saleh and Kellen Moore but get a bit odd with coaches like Jason Witten and Deion Sanders having inclusion in this discussion.
So far, the Cowboys have requested interviews with Saleh, Moore and Leslie Frazier. It’s certainly an odd grouping of candidates though this search is still in an early stage.
This will be a crucial decision for the Cowboys, choosing the right leader to hopefully achieve more with the core of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons than the previous regime.
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McCarthy’s departure also means a new staff will enter the fold, leaving the current group the chance to explore opportunities elsewhere. Mike Zimmer falls into that category, telling NFL media’s Tom Pelissero “all options are open” in regard to his coaching future.
He added another four-word message: “I really enjoy coaching.”
But there is one more wrinkle here with a rumor swirling that Zimmer is telling friends that he’s take the Dallas head coaching job if offered.
And, hints our own Mike Fisher: “The Jones-loyal Zim in Jerry’s backpocket as a backup plan?”
Zimmer’s future with the Cowboys was already uncertain before the Cowboys separated from Mike McCarthy. He signed a one-year deal with Dallas last offseason, returning to the sidelines for the first time since the Minnesota Vikings fired him after the 2022 season.
This is a stark contrast from the attitude previously expressed when Zimmer left his coaching future much more uncertain in his final press conference of the season. The Cowboys’ defensive coordinator was also recently engaged to his now fiancée.
Those “options” could be with a number of different teams for Zimmer; he retains a connection with the Bengals, and he could hook backup with buddy Deion Sanders … in Colorado, let’s say.
Zimmer and Cowboys’ defensive star Micah Parsons presented a strong working relationship though the coach and his unit needed more time than anticipated to turn a corner on that side this season.
The results of the Cowboys’ coaching search may coincide with more clarity on what Zimmer’s coaching future looks like. To this point, it could go down, sideways … or maybe even way up.
