The Dallas Cowboys lost their Wild Card Game matchup to the San Francisco 49ers, 23-17. The end of the game was fraught with controversy as the officials could not get the ball spotted in time for the Cowboys to make the last second heave to the end zone they needed to win the game.
This playoff loss clinches a 26-year drought between NFC Championship Game appearances. That failure to reach the final four may result in Cowboys’ head coach Mike McCarthy losing his job. In case they do fire McCarthy, here are three potential head coach candidates for the Dallas Cowboys.
Kellen Moore has been a mainstay on these kinds of lists for about two years now, much like another coordinator discussed below. But Moore may have the best claim to the Cowboys job, due to him already being employed by the organization.
Moore has run Dallas’ offense for three years, and turned it into one of the most potent offenses in the league, when run correctly. Quarterback Dak Prescott has thrived when all his weapons are healthy, and Moore seems to have a knack for turning lesser-known players into threats when someone takes away one of their best pieces.
It would be a no-brainer and very en vogue to hire this young coordinator to the Cowboys’ head coaching position. He implemented the system and knows the players, the only draw back is lack of experience, but he has to start somewhere.
On the other side of the coin (and the ball), the Cowboys could promote Dan Quinn to head coach. Quinn was hired this season to coordinate Dallas’ defense, and turned it into a ball-hawking turnover machine that relished in flashy play.
After six seasons and two playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl appearance, with the Atlanta Falcons, Quinn was let go so the team could move in a new direction. It was heavily reported that the Falcons players responding to and liking Quinn was the reason he lasted as long as he did in Atlanta. If he could bring that same culture to Dallas, that would be a huge boon for the team.
Quinn has experience here, and a talented offensive play-caller in Moore (if they can keep him on the Dallas sideline). This could also be a no-brainer move for the Cowboys if they want someone who knows the team and the system.
Finally, a name that is all but legally required to appear on these lists, as stated above. Eric Bieniemy, the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, is the premiere name when it comes to designing plays for dynamic teams with huge weapons and many different ways to beat defenses.
He has schemed for Tyreek Hill, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and more, leading the Chiefs to two straight Super Bowl appearances and one win. He could pick up where he left off with names like CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard, while hopefully working with the offensive coordinator that made them household names.
If the Cowboys want an outside-the-organization hire, they could not go wrong with Bieniemy.
Featured image courtesy of Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports
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