The Cowboys‘ coaching carousel is spinning again. And who else but Jerry Jones is at the controls. From Deion Sanders to Jason Witten… Jones seems determined to make headlines with even a few surprising college names. Meanwhile, NFL Network‘s Jane Slater has dropped a bombshell update that has the NFL world buzzing. But is this search more spectacle than substance?

Jane Slater’s insights paint a vivid picture of the chaos surrounding the Cowboys’ head coaching search. On January 13, Slater revealed on X that Jerry was working solo on this mission. “It sounds like Jerry’s been on a bit of a solo mission. He is picking up the phone. He is making calls,” she said. However, Jones has yet to contact several prominent names, according to Slater. “It’s my understanding that he has not yet called Kellen Moore. He has not yet called Cliff Kingsbury. He’s not yet called Sarkisian down at the University of Texas.” Slater also hinted at an intriguing possibility.

“Is the interest [in Deion] from Jerry real? I think the interest from Jerry is absolutely real,” she said. “I guess the question is, ‘Does Deion want to come here?’ and the reason why I asked that… is the autonomy that Deion enjoys there, not to mention the staff. He’s got a very large staff there. And as one person put to me today, is Jerry going to allow him to bring in all of those?” Sanders is currently in Colorado with a hefty five-year contract. And he might have leverage for a raise. But would he leave his autonomy and staff behind for Dallas? Slater’s take raises the stakes in this unpredictable drama.

But Jones is seemingly not stopping at one place. He is keeping as many doors open as he can. Cowboys legend Jason Witten was reportedly part of a prior plan involving Mike McCarthy. “It’s my understanding that Jerry has talked to Jason in recent weeks, and I do believe that he was part of a plan that Jerry initially had when he was going to bring back Mike McCarthy,” Slater suggested. “I think the plan there was to make him an air apparent of sorts. Mike McCarthy sort of surprised him by deciding that he wanted to end these conversations.” Could Witten return in some capacity, or is he destined for another role entirely? Slater’s intel adds a layer of intrigue to this already crowded narrative.

Jerry Jones has never been shy about pursuing big names. This time, his reluctance to adapt could limit his options, though. However, Slater’s report highlights how autonomy and pay disparities may deter some candidates. Even with Jerry having the Cowboys’ prestige to leverage.

The Deion Sanders factor and Jones’ headliners

Deion Sanders and Jerry Jones know how to command attention. Sanders is two years into his Colorado contract. Moreover, he has elevated the program’s profile. However, moving to Dallas is another story. Slater emphasized, “Jerry is not really high on paying his coaches here.” That clash of philosophies could complicate any potential deal.

Beyond Sanders, Jones has yet to call coaching heavyweights like John Gruden or Pete Carroll. But both carry price tags Jones may hesitate to match. The indecision underscores Jones’ tendency to value spectacle over stability, as suggested by Mike Florio as well. Slater pointed out that Jones has delayed calls to other candidates. And that keeps the franchise behind competitors in the head coaching race.

While Dallas boasts an elite core of talent—Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, and CeeDee Lamb—the organization’s chaotic environment and salary cap constraints make it a challenging sell.

Could a college coach like Lincoln Riley or Steve Sarkisian bridge the gap? Or will Jones lean on nostalgia with Witten or Sanders? Considerably, as Florio revealed on Monday, the Cowboys’ structure means any new coach must navigate a delicate balance between power and spectacle.

Dallas remains a storied franchise with immense potential. Yet Jones’ methods often hinder progress. Just as Slater’s revelations show. Jones must decide his priorities pretty quickly, as names like Bill Belichick and Aaron Glenn are still in play.