Five potential replacements for Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy

1. Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson

Johnson is an offensive wizard. In the regular season, the Lions (15-2) finished first in the league in points scored (33.2) and second in passing yards (263.2).

Johnson could help Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott become a Pro Bowler again. Before he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, Prescott posted a career-low 45.6 QBR in eight starts. 

Johnson, however, may not gel with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the OC wants “alignment” with a front office. It’s unclear if Jones would provide that.   

2. Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore 

Moore was Cowboys offensive coordinator from 2019-22, but they parted ways following a divisional-round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He spent one season as Los Angeles Chargers OC before the Eagles hired him this past offseason. 

Although his tenure in Dallas didn’t end amicably, Moore and the Cowboys may be willing to make amends. 

He could rejuvenate Dallas’ 27th-ranked rushing attack (100.3 YPG). Under Moore, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in 16 regular-season games, becoming the ninth RB to hit this mark. 

Moore — Prescott’s backup for his first two seasons — has a great relationship with the nine-year QB. In October 2023, Prescott said, “[Moore] is a friend for life.” 

3. Liberty Christian High School HC Jason Witten 

Witten — a former tight end — became Dallas’ all-time leader in receiving yards (12,977) in 16 seasons with the club. 

He has no NFL coaching experience but has been the HC for Liberty Christian High School since 2021. (It’s located in Argyle, Texas, 46 minutes from Dallas.) In four seasons, he’s 38-11. 

In November 2024, Jones told KRLD-FM in Dallas Witten would be a “top coach” in the NFL. Still, the Cowboys should consider targeting more qualified candidates. 

4. Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn

Glenn — a former defensive back — played for the Cowboys from 2005-06. In his fourth season with the Lions, he has built one of the top defenses in the league. 

Detroit ranked seventh in the league in points allowed (20.1). It’s worth noting Lions’ star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson fractured his tibia/fibula in Week 6, missing 12 games.

Glenn could potentially maximize a Dallas defense that underachieved this season. The Cowboys finished second to last in the league in points allowed (27.5). 

5. North Carolina Tar Heels HC Bill Belichick 

On Monday, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweeted that Belichick would have been intrigued by the Cowboys’ job if he had known it would be available. 

“Belichick has a great relationship with the Jones family,” wrote Schultz.

Belichick recently signed a five-year, $10M deal with North Carolina. The buyout is $10M until June 1, 2025, and then drops to $1M. Perhaps the Cowboys would pay it to hire the coach, who won six Super Bowls in 24 seasons with the New England Patriots.

The 72-year-old needs 15 wins (including the playoffs) to break Hall of Famer Don Shula’s record (347) for the most in a career. That may convince him to return to the NFL.