Cowboys 4 Non-Bill Belichick Coaching Candidates - Mike Tomlin? - if Mike McCarthy Is Fired
Mike McCarthy has led the Dallas Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 records, with quarterback Dak Prescott and company winning two NFC East titles over that period. Most teams would give their coaches contract extensions with that type of regular season success.
And yet, after a third consecutive embarrassing playoff exit -- this time a Wild Card blowout defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers -- it feels like McCarthy is likely on borrowed time in Dallas.
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Jerry Jones said after the 48-32 loss -- which wasn't even as close as the score would lead you to believe -- that he hadn't thought about the future of McCarthy. He also called the performance, or lack thereof, "beyond comprehension."
Jones is 81. Dallas hasn't won a Super Bowl, or even reached the NFC Championship Game, since he was in his early 50s. It just seems hard to imagine him bringing back McCarthy, who despite leading the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XLV, is now probably going to be more remembered for the shortcomings he's had as a coach in the postseason, both in Green Bay and Dallas.
Obviously, six-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick is a free agent after he and the New England Patriots parted ways last week. The first quarter wasn't even over Sunday afternoon before social media was on fire with posts suggesting that the Cowboys hire Belichick. And perhaps they will. Belichick is chasing the all-time wins record, and whether he would admit it or not, his legacy could use a great second act like Tom Brady had with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys have a ready-made offense, and a defense filled with superstars. If Belichick doesn't want personnel control, the idea of his last coaching act being in Dallas -- like his mentor Bill Parcells -- makes quite a bit of sense.
But, it's also not impossible to imagine a scenario where Belichick and Jones have discussions, but despite mutual respect, realize they probably aren't a great fit together. In the event that McCarthy is fired and Belichick isn't his successor, here's four candidates with diverse backgrounds that could be the next coach in Dallas.
Jim Harbaugh - Coach, University of Michigan
In the same way it's fair to wonder whether Belichick could co-exist with Jones, you have to ask that question with Harbaugh, who is about as quirky as it gets. He may also want a say in personnel, which might be a deal-breaker in Dallas, where Jerry and Stephen Jones have done a pretty good job themselves acquiring talent over the last decade.
But man, even if Harbaugh isn't going to stay anywhere for 24 years like Belichick did in New England, it's hard to argue with the results he gets. He just led Michigan to a National Championship victory. The San Francisco 49ers went 44-19-1 in four seasons with him at the helm, making three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance. Whether he and Jerry would be great friends or not, they could each help each other to get what they most covet in life -- a Lombardi Trophy.
Mike Tomlin - Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin will coach the Steelers Monday evening against the Buffalo Bills. Even if they lose, which they probably will, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently reported that the Steelers are interested in extending his contract. And why wouldn't they be? As you may have heard, he has zero losing seasons in 17 years on the job.
However, there are also indications that Tomlin, still only 51, plans to evaluate his future with the Steelers whenever their season concludes. Pittsburgh doesn't appear to have a long-term answer at the quarterback position, and he may want to take a year off, like Sean Payton did after a long run with the New Orleans Saints.
But ... it's hard to imagine someone who would be a better fit to deal with the 24/7 news cycle that comes with the Cowboys. Getting the right offensive coordinator would be crucial, but if the Cowboys could find a way to acquire Tomlin from the Steelers, he would be as good a choice as anyone.
Mike Vrabel - Former Coach, Tennessee Titans
Again, copy/paste, Vrabel is a strong personality, who knows whether he wants to work with Jones, or would prefer to just take a year off.
But he has a lot of Tomlin-like qualities, his teams always play hard for him and seem to have an edge. The Cowboys feel like a team that's spent the McCarthy Era trying to convince everyone that "this year is different," only to come up small in January. The toughness that Vrabel's teams play with might be what's needed in Dallas, because the problem hasn't been a lack of Super Bowl talent.
Vrabel, of course, has a defensive background, and would likely salivate at the chance to coach Micah Parsons, among others on that side of the ball. Arthur Smith might have been overmatched as a coach for the Atlanta Falcons, but he was the offensive coordinator under Vrabel when the Titans reached the AFC Championship Game in 2019. Perhaps they could reunite in Dallas, and Vrabel likely wouldn't have to worry about losing his offensive coordinator to a coaching job anytime soon.
Dan Quinn - Defensive Coordinator, Cowboys
Giving up 48 points to quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers might make this arrangement impossible, but if Quinn isn't coaching the Cowboys next year, he may very well have a job elsewhere. And even after an ugly playoff loss, there's no doubt it would burn to lose Quinn as the defensive play caller.
Quinn hasn't seemed to aggressively pursue coaching opportunities the last two years. Perhaps that was because he hoped his second act as a coach would come in Dallas, even if he wasn't rooting for McCarthy to fail. It's at least worth thinking about.
