5 candidates to replace Jason Garrett as Cowboys head coach

1. Josh McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator

Speaking of coordinators who may just not want to leave their post, here’s McDaniels. He has been back as Patriots’ offensive coordinator at Bill Belichick’s side since 2012, with his failed less than a two-year stint as Denver Broncos head coach (11-17 from 2009-2010) getting further and further from memory.

There’s an idea McDaniels will just bide his time in New England and eventually be tabbed as Belichick’s successor. But who knows when Belichick will call it quits, and with a contract that allows him to be a free agent after this season there are some questions and speculation regarding Tom Brady’s future.

McDaniels easily surfaces as a head coaching candidate every year, and even after spurning the Indianapolis Colts at virtually the last possible minute a couple of years ago teams won’t shy away from him. He’s also still a pretty young coach, at 43 years old, with credit for consistently coaxing production out of a New England offense that has lacked enough good pieces at times.

After the Garrett experience, with consistent critique of his offensive design, sideline demeanor and strategical misfires (mostly rightly), a progressive offensive mind of McDaniels’ ilk should be on Dallas’ radar. The big question is what job he may entertain leaving the Patriots for after this season, if any.

But the lingering prestige of the Cowboys is a unique selling point, and Jones is surely ready to use it to pry someone he really wants away from their current job. For what it’s worth BetOnline has put 4/1 odds on McDaniels being the next Cowboys’ head coach, behind only Urban Meyer (3/1).