Pro Football Hall of Famer and current University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is reportedly "considered a top candidate" for the Dallas Cowboys' head coaching position, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz Monday (January 13) night.
"Sources: #Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken with Colorado HC Deion Sanders about the team’s head coaching vacancy, and discussions are expected to continue regarding the possibility of him becoming the next head coach in Dallas. Coach Prime is considered a top candidate, though the Cowboys plan to interview other candidates as part of the process, per team sources," Schultz wrote on his X account. "Sources: Jerry Jones and Deion Sanders have spoken, and while a formal interview hasn’t been scheduled yet, there is mutual interest. My understanding is that the two are going to stay in contact on this."
Sanders played on the Cowboys for five seasons of his Hall of Fame career, which included being a member of the franchise's last Super Bowl team. The legendary cornerback went 13-12 (8-10 in conference play) during his two seasons at Colorado, which includes a 9-4 (7-2 Big 12 Conference) finish in 2024, two years after the team went 1-11 (1-8 Pac-12) under his predecessor Karl Dorrell and 27-6 (19-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) during three seasons at Jackson State from 2020 to 2022. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is credited for developing two-way superstar Travis Hunter into a Heisman Trophy winner in 2024, as well as both Hunter and his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, into two of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Dallas Cowboys have decided not to renew head coach Mike McCarthy's contract on Monday. McCarthy led the Cowboys to a 7-10 record in 2024, missing the playoffs for the first time since his first season with the franchise in 2020.