Deion Sanders has been floated as a potential head coach candidate for the Dallas Cowboys should they decide to part ways with Mike McCarthy, but the possibility of that happening seems unlikely for now, with both parties showing little to no interest.
Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated published a story on Thursday that listed over two dozen head coaching candidates who could draw attention during the upcoming hiring cycle. In his analysis, Orr mentioned that he would not expect many current college coaches to receive significant interest from NFL teams, including Sanders.
The idea of Deion Sanders coaching the Cowboys is certainly a thrilling one for many football fans, particularly given Sanders’ legacy in Dallas as a Hall of Fame player. However, Orr wrote that there has been “no indication of any seriousness regarding a Deion Sanders and Jerry Jones reunion.”
This lack of interest isn’t particularly surprising. For one, there is no guarantee that Mike McCarthy will be fired. McCarthy’s contract is set to expire after this season, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has shown a tendency to stick with his head coaches, even during challenging times. The prime example of this is Jason Garrett, who remained the head coach in Dallas for a decade, often appearing to be on the hot seat, but consistently getting another shot.
On the other hand, Sanders himself may not be eager to leave his current position. Since taking over at Colorado, Sanders has led the Buffaloes to an impressive 7-2 record after a challenging first season.
His efforts have revitalized the program, bringing excitement and attention back to Colorado football. Sanders has stated in the past that he has no real desire to coach at the NFL level, and when a former teammate recently asked him about the Cowboys rumors, his response was brief and noncommittal.
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There’s also the reality of Jerry Jones’ ambitions. At 82 years old, Jones is eager to add another Super Bowl to his storied tenure as owner of the Cowboys. Hiring Sanders would certainly create a splash and grab headlines, but it would also come with substantial risks.
Sanders has no prior NFL coaching experience, and transitioning from the college ranks to the pros can be challenging, especially for a coach without a deep background in managing professional teams. For Jones, who has seen his share of coaching experiments, that risk might outweigh the potential reward.
Ultimately, while the idea of Deion Sanders leading the Cowboys onto the field is an intriguing one, the reality of such a move seems far-fetched.
Both Sanders and the Cowboys appear to be on different trajectories, with Sanders focusing on building a legacy at Colorado and the Cowboys seemingly committed, for now, to McCarthy’s leadership. Without a clear push from either side, the possibility of Sanders coaching in Dallas remains little more than a fan’s fantasy.
