The Dallas Cowboys have the highest paid quarterback in the NFL, the second highest-paid receiver in the NFL, and soon, the likely highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, if Micah Parsons so chooses to go that far.
That’s a core, in theory, that should make the Cowboys’ head coaching opening a tantalizing one, no?
Well, according to one former Cowboys great, the answer is actually, well, no.
Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman discussed the Cowboys’ head-coaching opening on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown — the same day the Cowboys and now-former head coach Mike McCarthy elected to mutually part ways.
Is the Cowboys position a coveted job?
“I don’t know that that is accurate,” Aikman said. “I do think the Cowboys are obviously a high profile team and whoever is the head coach of that team is certainly going to draw a lot of attention, but I think most football people that take over as a head coach, they want to do it on their terms, and that’s hard to do.”
Aikman had an example, too.
Dan Campbell has quickly risen to being one of the best coaches in the NFL. His toughness has been emblematic of the city he coaches in, leading the Detroit Lions back to playoff success they hadn’t seen in decades.
Campbell once played for the Cowboys. He has a fan in Jones, too, who has spoken multiple times before about the successes Campbell has shown in Detroit. But would that work here in Dallas?
“Is Dan Campbell, Dan Campbell if he’s with the Dallas Cowboys? It’s hard to imagine that he is,” Aikman said. “I love the Dallas Cowboys. I played there for 12 years. I wish them well. But to say that it is a coveted job, I’m not sure I would necessarily agree with that.”
Whether the Cowboys are the most coveted job out there isn’t solely based on them, however.
Dallas is one of six head coaching openings at the moment. The New England Patriots officially introduced Mike Vrabel as their new head coach on Monday.
Here’s a look at all the coaching openings.
Of note: all cap figures are from OverTheCap.
Dallas Cowboys
2024 record: 7-10
Projected cap space currently in 2025: $-285,056
Players under contract: 56
First pick: 12th overall
Las Vegas Raiders
2024 record: 4-13
Projected cap space currently in 2025: $92.5 million
Players under contract: 52
First pick: 6th overall
New Orleans Saints
2024 record: 5-12
Projected cap space currently in 2025: $-52.3 million
Players under contract: 61
First pick: 9th overall
Chicago Bears
2024 record: 5-12
Projected cap space currently in 2025: $66.01 million
Players under contract: 44
First pick: 10th overall
Jacksonville Jaguars
2024 record: 4-13
Projected cap space currently in 2025: $35.67 million
Players under contract: 44
First pick: 5th overall
New York Jets
2024 record: 5-12
Projected cap space currently in 2025: $20.95 million
Players under contract: 58
First pick: 7th overall
