After months of uncertainty, Jerry Jones finally decided to move on from Mike McCarthy, despite publicly backing him during a tumultuous season. Dak Prescott, one of his two most prized assets at the Cowboys was “bummed” when the decision was announced but could do little to help the situation after having his season cut short by a hamstring injury. Now Jones, known for dragging key decisions, is on the lookout for a new HC but potential candidates have been warned by someone who has experienced life under the Cowboys owner.

Mike McCarthy faced a tall order from the moment it was clear that the franchise wouldn’t be spending heavily on free agency. Many saw it coming after Prescott signed a new $240 million four-year contract and CeeDee Lamb put pen to paper on a $136 million deal for the same duration. It seemed Jones had done enough spending for the offseason. The result? A 7-10 record after three consecutive seasons of an identical 12-5 run and McCarthy was shown the door. While McCarthy’s competency came under scrutiny, a lot of criticism has been directed toward Jones.

Since McCarthy has left, quite a few names have been linked with the Dallas hot seat, with Colorado Buffs HC and Cowboys legend Deion Sanders touted as a possible replacement. While Sanders has been going back and forth on a return to the NFL, Jason Garrett has some advice for him.

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, Garrett said though Sanders has been doing a good job in Boulder, he should take the Cowboys job “if he feels compelled,” saying that Sanders and Jones have a “long relationship.”

Garrett then talked about how this relationship matters and how they can be honest with each other in certain situations. “I do think they can be honest with each other, I don’t think they will be walking on eggshells around each other. I think they can be direct with each other,” Garrett said. However, he believes Sanders will have to deal with the personality that Jones carries.

But he encouraged Sanders to tell Jones what is on his mind and “it might not go your way. Tell him what you think of this player, this coach, this philosophy..”

Jerry Jones runs the Cowboys like it’s his personal empire—which, to be fair, it is. But his my way or the highway approach hasn’t exactly done the team any Super Bowl favors. Remember Jimmy Johnson? The man who actually built the Cowboys’ dynasty in the ’90s? He left because of Jones’ micromanagement. It’s like having two quarterbacks arguing over the same playbook—chaos.

Then there’s the whole star power obsession. Ezekiel Elliott’s massive contract turned heads, but what about the O-line? He very conveniently said, “We didn’t have money” to get Derrick Henry. Imagine that. Then the defense? Sure, Micah Parsons is there… And? Who else? Building a team takes more than flashy names. Add Jones’ constant media spotlight and his business-first mindset (hello, $9 billion brand), and you’ve got a team with more headlines than hardware.

Three decades without an NFC Championship game sums up this JJ philosophy that many would argue has held back America’s Team. Coaches in Dallas have to get used to dealing with Jones doing his own thing- like holding his own press conference with the HC scheduled to have one. This can at times create an uneasy situation.

Addressing this dilemma, Garrett said, “You’ve to deal with that…You just figure it out. You can’t let those things detract from what you’re trying to build. Sometimes you wish they weren’t there, you didn’t have to deal with those distractions. There is a lot of attention on that team anyway, so why are we adding fuel to the fire? But again, it’s part of it and you work way through it.” 

Dan Patrick then brought up that he asked Tim Cowlishaw if he told Jerry Jones that he could not hold any more interviews or radio shows for the next 5 years in return for a Super Bowl, would he be able to do it. To this Garrett replied, “I just don’t think he wants to give that up. Someone asked me the other day, do you go in there and try to change Jerry Jones? I said you’re not changing Jerry. He’s 82 years old. This is what he wants to do. He (Jones) wants to be the lead voice of the organization. And I don’t see him giving that up anytime soon.” 

That’s not shade; it’s just reality. Jones is the captain of this ship, and he’s steering it his way, come rain or shine. Well, he has clearly made a statement saying Dallas does not need a GM. But what about the players? Especially those much ambitious, maybe even more than their team owner.

Prescott has been the face of the franchise since 2016. He has carried the weight of expectations while watching the Super Bowl slip further out of reach. Sure, he’s racked up accolades—NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Walter Payton Man of the Year—but championships? Not yet. For Prescott and the Cowboys faithful, the dream remains alive, but patience is wearing thin.

I mean, how thin? Well, after the week 1 win against the Browns, Prescott said his only motivation is to win the Super Bowl. “Hold up my part of this deal. Just deliver that. That’s my motivation.” Well, that is what the fans expected out of their $240 million-worth QB, but… 7-10 finish. Not even good to reach the playoffs. Sure, Dak has his sets of blame. But JJ is not helping by building a financial empire out of the Cowboys, either.

This brings us to the million-dollar question—what kind of coach thrives in this environment? Garrett suggests it’s someone who can “lead upward,” navigating Jones’ larger-than-life presence while keeping the locker room focused. Maybe, just maybe, someone who knows Jerry. So, maybe Deion Sanders is the answer then?

Can Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders work together to help the Cowboys

Let’s cut straight to the chase—Is Deion Sanders coaching the Dallas Cowboys? That’s a plot twist even Hollywood couldn’t script. One that Jason Garrett thinks might work because both of them know each other. As he put it: “I think they can be honest with each other.” 

But hold on to your thoughts… That’s like putting two quarterbacks on the same field—sounds exciting, but who’s calling the plays? One of the age-old adages that strike true even to this day is, “You can’t have two QBs in the same room, they suck the oxygen out.” Okay, that was in quarterback scenarios. But Deion and JJ? Yeah, they both wanna take the reins behind the mic.

Deion, aka ‘Coach Prime,’ is a legend. Jerry is a bold move maestro. But as Cowboys great DeMarcus Ware puts it, “It will be hard to have two stars.” Deion’s track record is undeniable. At Jackson State, he bagged two SWAC titles and Coach of the Year awards.

At Colorado, the Prime Effect doubled football ticket revenue to $31.2 million in 2023-24. That’s a number that would make even Jerry Jones sit up. Who wouldn’t want that kind of magic in Dallas?

But here’s the rub—Jerry’s the Cowboys’ showrunner. He’s the ultimate marketing guru and team boss. Pairing him with Deion, who thrives on charisma and control, could get tricky. Can two alphas share the same sideline? That’s the million-dollar question.

However, in terms of replacing Mike McCarthy, he can do a good job… Let’s talk numbers—because stats don’t lie.

Meanwhile, Deion’s success spans high school and college. McCarthy? He’s been grinding in the NFL with a Super Bowl ring to show for it. So, would Deion’s college charisma translate to pro-level grit?

But Ware does think it’s possible if egos take a timeout. “If those two giants can work something out, it could be awesome,” he says. He even floated the idea of Jason Witten as offensive coordinator. Now, that’s a lineup Cowboys fans could cheer for!

At the end of the day, Jerry’s made it clear he’s chasing another Lombardi. “He’s made enough money. He wants to win,” says Ware. It’s about time… But given the history (ahem, his all-in remark before the 2024 season…), we wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t end up getting that ring again.