5 dark horse candidates to be the next Dallas Cowboys head coach

4. Gary Kubiak, Vikings Offensive Advisor/Assistant Head Coach

Kubiak came to Minnesota as an offensive assistant this year, and his influence has been clear. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has offered some of the best play of his career for much of the season, and Dalvin Cook was among the league’s most productive running backs when he was healthy.

Mike Zimmer also talked about Kubiak, a former head coach who has won a Super Bowl of course, as an important sounding board for him during this season. If offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski leaves for a head coaching job, it would be easy to change Kubiak’s title and retain him as offensive coordinator.

Health concerns led to Kubiak stepping away as head coach of the Broncos at the end of the 2016 season, and an on-field collapse during his final season as Texans’ head coach in 2013 predated that. So head coaching may literally be hazardous to his health, as he seemingly has struggled to manage the stress of it.

But if a head coaching opportunity were to come his way, with a strong staff of assistants to be assembled around him, it’s worth wondering if Kubiak would listen. Jones would do well to find out.