FRISCO – With just a few hours left of his four-year contract, the Dallas Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy have decided to part ways.

The team confirmed on Monday that the two parties were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension.

This leaves an important question unanswered: Who will lead the Americas Team in the 2025 season? Here is my list of top contenders.

1. Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury – Jerry Jones is probably well acquainted with Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. He is a former NFL head coach and is currently doing good work with Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jayden Daniels for a division rival. Kingsbury also has ties to Texas through his work as Texas A&M’s OC with Johnny Manziel and as head coach at Texas Tech.
2. Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore – There may not be a candidate as well-connected with the Cowboys as current Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. He played quarterback for the Cowboys, was the QB coach for Dallas and served as the team’s offensive coordinator. After a year with Justin Herber and the Chargers in 2023, Moore is thriving with the Eagles in 2024. Running back Saquon Barkley is the 2024 rushing champion, and Philadelphia has a top-10 scoring offense. That’s the highest Jones can get for Jason Garrett.
3. Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady – Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady would be a “start from the bottom” type of guy for Dallas. He’s 35 years old but has four years of experience as an NFL OC, including back-to-back seasons with a top-10 scoring offense in Buffalo with quarterback Josh Allen. He’s not a name that grabs headlines, but he has a track record of success. Because of his age and experience, hiring Brady probably won’t cost that much compared to going rates for NFL head coaching contracts.
4. Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn – Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has one of the better resumes this coaching cycle, and he has ties to the Cowboys. He played cornerback for Dallas for two seasons, 2005 and 2006, under head coach Bill Parcells. Glenn also molded the Lions’ 2024 unit into a top-10 scoring defense despite numerous injuries, including a season-ending loss to Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6 against the Cowboys.
5. Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson – Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been the crown jewel of the NFL coaching carousel for the past two years. The reason is his work with quarterback Jared Goff and Co. Detroit has been a top 10 scoring offense in all three of his seasons as the team’s OC since 2022. That would be a home run commitment. Jones hiring Johnson would also be a way to screw the commanders. Last offseason, they initially offered Johnson their opening before hiring Dan Quinn from the Cowboys’ coaching staff. That was because Johnson withdrew his name from the discussion at the last minute. This hire would be a big win for Jones.