FRISCO, Texas – As the Cowboys begin the process of replacing Mike McCarthy as head coach, many candidates are expected to appear in the headlines.

None of them will likely be a bigger name than Deion Sanders, who transformed the Colorado Buffaloes in two seasons in Boulder.

According to multiple reports, Sanders has already met with Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones for an informal meeting. An official coaching interview cannot take place until Wednesday, when McCarthy’s contract officially expires.

Sanders was quoted in an ESPN social media post about his visit with Jones.

“Hearing from Jerry Jones is really gratifying and fascinating,” Sanders said Monday night. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. When you put it on, process it and think about it, it’s fascinating. But I love Boulder.”

In addition to coaching Travis Hunter into a two-way star and winning the Heisman Trophy, he also coached his two sons, Shedder and Shilo Sanders. As a quarterback, Shedder will be a top-five pick in next year’s draft along with Hunter.

Colorado went 9-4 last season after Sanders posted a 4-8 record in his first season in Boulder.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Jones has courted Sanders. In 1995, Sanders won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award with the 49ers, who also defeated the Cowboys in the NFC Championship that year. Sanders signed a lucrative free agent contract and joined the Cowboys, who won Super Bowl XXX.

Sanders played five seasons for the Cowboys and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times. In 1996, Sanders became the first two-way starter in the NFL since the 1960s. He started at both wide receiver and cornerback, similar to Hunter this year at Colorado, helping him win the Heisman Trophy.