The Dallas Cowboys are probably going to be in the market for a new head coach come the 2025 regular season, but the more pertinent question involves who the franchise might target to replace Mike McCarthy.

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has been the center of widespread speculation in the national media as a strong candidate to become the Cowboys’ next sideline leader. However, that outcome could depend on where his son and current CU quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, ends up getting drafted.

Dak Prescott is out for the remainder of the year after undergoing surgery to repair an injured hamstring, but he just signed a four-year extension worth $240 million total in Dallas — the richest deal for any player (QB or otherwise) in NFL history.

Prescott would certainly be a tradable piece should Dallas decide to pursue the dynamic father-son duo from Boulder, but Dianna Russini of Bleacher Report threw cold water on that notion during a Tuesday, Nov. 19 appearance on the “Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz” podcast.

Co-host Stugotz (Jon Weiner) asked Russini directly how real the rumor of Sanders to Dallas actually is, to which she responded bluntly.

“It’s not real,” Russini said.

She added that she does not see Sanders following his son to the NFL under any circumstances — at least not based on the information she has currently, which indicates that he wants to remain a kingpin in college football.

“I think Deion actually wants to stay in college. … Talking to some people close to him, they’ve shared with me that he likes where he’s at. He likes the space he’s in,” Russini continued. “That could change, of course it could change. But in terms of Dallas, I don’t think that that’s a realistic option for them. I think they’re going to be looking more toward a coach with experience in the league and not do a first-time head coach scenario.”

Russini went on to list the top head coaching candidates heading into 2025, which included another name that has often been linked to the Cowboys in recent weeks — Bill Belichick, formerly of the New England Patriots.

“This coaching cycle is moving right now,” Russini said, noting that as a change from previous seasons given the still relatively early point in the year. “The top candidates appear to be Mike Vrabel, Bill Belichick, Aaron Glenn in Detroit [and] Ben Johnson in Detroit — and those seem to be the names for right now.”