ARLINGTON – It may take 48 hours, it may take four days, it may take (like Jason Garrett’s firing five years ago) an entire week before we learn the fate of Mike McCarthy and this Cowboys coaching staff. Jerry Jones controls all of this, and his time frame is his time frame.

Here’s what we can control – the five names we think make sense (in Jerry fashion) as your next head coach for Dallas if a move is to be made.

1. Kliff Kingsbury, Washington offensive coordinator

He can’t be blamed for not winning his only playoff game in four years in Arizona. He took over one of the league’s worst-performing franchises when it had the first pick in the draft. From the worst team in the league, to five wins, then eight, and finally 11 wins, Kliff had an upward trajectory despite the limitations that will always come with a Kyler Murray team.

The most important question to ask when looking for a coach for the Cowboys is: Who can get the most out of Dak Prescott at age 32-33-34 over the next three seasons? I doubt any coach gets more wins out of Murray than Kingsbury, and you saw what he did with Jayden Daniels as a rookie in Washington. As a coordinator, his availability and willingness to tackle the task that comes with coaching the Cowboys is higher than most others on this list. He’ll obviously need a good defensive coordinator, but if you want to get the most out of Dak and CeeDee Lamb in their prime, Kliff is the perfect choice.

Washington’s offense was unsuccessful early Sunday with only wild-card positioning at stake. When the Commanders needed big plays in the second half, Washington, even with backup Marcus Mariota leading the way, managed the three touchdowns it needed for a 23-19 victory and a 12-5 record after just four wins last season . For most of this year, Kliff and Daniels have delivered. Dallas may not be his first choice. Kingsbury is expected to interview with Chicago this week, where he could coach Caleb Williams. Kingsbury worked with him at USC in 2023.

2. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin

Lane likes to keep moving. His first experience with the NFL ended rather unpleasantly when Jerry’s buddy, the late Al Davis, famously fired him “for good reason.” However, Kiffin is a proven offensive line coach, and while he has done a good job at Ole Miss, the school spent a lot of money on the squad this year and the club still ended up in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. Maybe Kiffin sees the writing on the wall (or on the ceiling) that Texas, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and (eventually) Oklahoma are competing for the national playoffs.

Kiffin has the kind of personality and makeup that could handle Jones’ structure. He would also be the first Cowboys head coach to be active on Twitter or X in the past. You always have to think about the brand.

3. Jon Gruden, former Raiders and Buccanneers coach

There are reasons why he would be a controversial hire, and the fact that he sued the NFL is the least of them. Would Jones walk away from a coach he has always admired because of the controversy that inevitably followed the racist and homophobic emails that led Gruden to resign from the Raiders? Not likely.

It’s been decades since Gruden accomplished anything, but his offensive mind would intrigue Jerry. The fact that some of his most vicious email attacks were directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell would certainly have won Jerry approval a few years ago.

4. Brian Flores, Minnesota defensive coordinator

As long as we have opened the door to those suing the league (which Jerry pursued long before these candidates), the former Dolphins head coach is a worthy candidate. He would also allow the Cowboys to (belatedly) break the color barrier at head coach.

5. Steve Sarkisian, Texas head coach

There is no doubt about the power of his offensive mind. “All Gas No Brakes” has made it to consecutive Final Fours. And wouldn’t Jerry be happy to do a good job while doing damage to a school that Arkansas would like to call its rival again someday?

But he’s a very shaky No. 5 on this list because I don’t think a coach who makes the Longhorns as strong as they currently are is likely to give that up in favor of the parity-driven NFL and the three-man circus that comes with it will be the Cowboys’ position.

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