The Dallas Cowboys still have eight games left in 2024, but for the most part, this is over. The record is now 3-6, the club has lost four games in a row, and Sunday's dismal loss to rival Philadelphia put an exclamation point on how bad things have gotten. The offense posted its worst performance since 2002, failing to reach 150 yards of offense for the first time in two decades. The defense got a boost from its best players but couldn't fight back after being repeatedly asked to leave the game without a long break due to turnovers (five) and three-and-outs.
The mood was dark. A coaching staff full of lame ducks can't resist the current, and every word uttered is now seen as a shot or at least an slight towards someone else. Things only get worse from here as the Cowboys play the entire 2024 season. Head coach Mike McCarthy will not receive a new contract and will be cleaning out his office in early January.
This will likely set off an interesting search: If the front office is worth anything at all (which is questionable at this point), they're already doing the legwork to put together a list of candidates. We will undertake similar work and create a watchlist of potential replacements. Check in regularly throughout the remainder of the regular season.
Honorable Mentions:
Dan Pritchard, OC of the Cincinnati Bengals
Ryan Grubb, OC of the Seattle Seahawks
Adam Stenovich, OC of the Green Bay Packers
Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC
Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC
Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints, OC
Lincoln Riley, USC, HC
December 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
The best college head coach since Nick Saban. He probably makes far too much ($13 million a year) as a coach at his alma mater to transfer, but there is no reasonable process without at least considering the possibility.
January 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Will Flores get another chance at a head coaching job? He was dropped by the Dolphins when their owner tried to lure Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach. The revelation about the attempt to have a coach for the tank games may have lifted the curtain on the inner workings of the league, but it probably didn't do Flores any great favors. What has succeeded, however, is the work he has done to right the ship in Minnesota with their defense.
November 2, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith at the press conference at PSD Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Grabbing from a fruitful tree is always a smart idea, and snagging Smith under Mike McDaniel as part of the Kyle Shanahan limb system seems like a smart decision. Dallas rarely uses movement at the snap and isn't particularly good at it; and that is literally Smith's strength. However, he currently has no play-calling duties, which could be viewed as a disadvantage.
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk on Monday after two losing seasons had -towards the back.
Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who found great success at Tennessee with a veteran quarterback who wasn't well-regarded before their time together (Ryan Tannehill). Pairing him with Dak Prescott, who is known as a disciplinarian, would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator.
September 30, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they face the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
For better or worse, the clubhouse leader. Belichick is a big Prescott fan, Jerry Jones is a big proponent of retreads, and it would be interesting to see if there was a competent front office…oh, wait.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches practice during OTAs on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at the Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Glenn obviously has ties to Dallas, having played two of his 15 seasons with the organization, but the growth of the Lions' defense under his guidance has been impressive in its own right. In 2020, they ranked 32nd in defensive DVOA. Since Glenn joined, they have moved up to 29th, 27th, 13th and are in 2nd place heading into Week 11. He is repeatedly highlighted by his players as a phenomenal men's leader.
September 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory attribution: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
It seems that Kingsbury's absence after the disaster in Arizona did him a lot of good. The offense he put together in DC for rookie Jayden Daniels is quite impressive and a stark contrast to what he did with Kyler Murray in the desert. This transformation should result in him being given a second chance, which is not always granted to him.
November 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders (right) speaks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
After great success at Jackson State with back-to-back SWAC championships, Sanders quickly moved Colorado from obscurity to prominence. After going 1-11 the previous season, Sanders moved to 4-9 in his first year and is now 7-2 entering the 2024 season.
January 8, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady poses for a photo with fans before the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
After a strong stint at LSU with Joe Burrow, Brady has made waves in the NFL over the past three seasons as coordinator of the Josh Allen Buffalo Bills. The Bills ranked second in offensive DVOA in 2022, third in 2023 and are currently sixth in 2024.
July 27, 2023; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) smiles at a fan with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken in the background after practice at the Under Armor Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
The evolution of the Ravens' passing attack and the autonomy under center imposed on Lamar Jackson over the last season and a half has been incredible. As a QB, he's one of the best, but Monken deserves a lot of credit for recognizing how to unlock this team.
December 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on the sidelines during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Slowik is extremely fascinating for several reasons. First, the offense he was able to coordinate for rookie CJ Stroud was amazing and he continued to expand it in year two despite a putrid offensive line. Slowik comes from the Shanahan coaching staff that has achieved incredible success at the NFL level, and perhaps most importantly, he previously served as a defensive line coach. This combination just seems like a great hire.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson looks on as he warms up before the Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, December 30, 2023.
What Ben Johnson's offense and his guidance could do for Jared Goff was amazing. In the Stafford trade, Goff was supposed to be a placeholder until the Lions recruited their guy. Now the significantly limited passer runs one of the best and most innovative offenses in the league. The Lions have the best record in the NFC, and coordinating a comeback win in Week 10 on Sunday night despite Jared Goff throwing five interceptions was icing on the cake.
There's a rumor that Johnson demanded $15 million per season last cycle. That could be a base number, or it could have been a number he gave to a franchise he wasn't really interested in. Fans should be wary of accepting such reports without the unavailable context.
