The coaching carousel in the NFL is finally spinning, but if you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan, it’s hard not to feel like your team is stuck at the starting line. While other franchises are locking in their next leaders, the Cowboys seem mired in their own drawn-out process—thanks, in no small part, to Jerry Jones’ handling of the Mike McCarthy situation.
Let’s face it: dragging out McCarthy’s fate was always going to come at a cost, and that cost became painfully clear when the Bears swooped in and hired Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Monday.
Johnson wasn’t just a hot name—he was *the* name. A rising star in NFL coaching circles, Johnson was widely regarded as the most desirable candidate in this year’s hiring cycle. But by the time the Cowboys decided to enter the conversation, the conversation was already over.
Now, to be fair, there’s no guarantee Johnson would’ve been interested in Dallas or that Jerry Jones would’ve given him a serious look. But that’s precisely the problem. The Cowboys’ lack of urgency—and, frankly, their old-school approach to coaching hires—is as frustrating as it is predictable.
Johnson may have been a perfect fit to inject some much-needed creativity into the Cowboys’ stagnant offense, but the organization’s apparent disinterest speaks volumes about how it operates.
Instead, Dallas is reportedly focused on a slate of candidates who, while not entirely uninspiring, certainly don’t scream “game-changer.” Leslie Frazier, the former Vikings head coach and longtime defensive mind, has plenty of experience, but he’s hardly an innovative choice.
Kellen Moore, the Cowboys’ own offensive coordinator, might bring continuity, but he hasn’t exactly set the league on fire. Deion Sanders is a fun wildcard, but his lack of NFL coaching experience makes him more of a gamble than a sure bet. And Brian Schottenheimer? Solid, maybe, but hardly the bold move fans are hoping for.
The Cowboys’ coaching search feels like a microcosm of the organization itself: tied to the past, overly reliant on personal relationships, and resistant to the kind of forward-thinking moves that could push the team back into serious contention.
Ben Johnson’s hire in Chicago might not guarantee success for the Bears, but it’s hard not to look at it as a missed opportunity for Dallas—a chance to bring in one of the league’s brightest offensive minds at a time when innovation is sorely needed.
Of course, there’s still time for Jerry Jones to make a splash. But let’s be honest: the Cowboys’ reluctance to embrace change doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Whether it’s hiring Leslie Frazier, promoting Kellen Moore, or rolling the dice on Deion Sanders, this feels like another chapter in the same old story. And until the Cowboys prove otherwise, it’s hard to imagine that story ending any differently than it has for the past 27 years.
