3 coaches Cowboys should’ve hired instead of Mike McCarthy

If a defensive coordinator ends up with an NFL head-coaching gig in the 2021 cycle, it will be Don “Wink” Martindale of the Baltimore Ravens. He is a no-nonsense defensive-minded coach, who is proficient in getting the most out of his players. He’s on the good side of 60 years old and he stems from the right coaching tree to get a look at being someone’s next head coach this January.

Martindale has been on John Harbaugh’s staff in the Charm City since 2012. He stems from the Mike Holmgren coaching tree by way of Andy Reid by way of Harbaugh. The Cowboys’ pitiful defense would not be complacent and simply unable to grasp defensive coordinator Mike Nolan‘s complex and antiquated schemes. Odds are, he’d be able to bring in a savvy offensive mind, too.

Though it may not be going over swimmingly with the Denver Broncos, but Martindale projects as the next Vic Fangio of head-coaching candidates. Fangio has his faults, but he did assemble a strong offensive staff around him in Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak coaching the offensive line and former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur as his offensive coordinator.

Offense may be all the rage these days, but maybe some good, old-fashioned mental toughness would have served the Cowboys in hiring Jason Garrett’s replacement? Martindale may not have been the “sexy” big-name hire of McCarthy, but surely the results would have been better through three weeks. Dallas is in need of discipline and accountability. Martindale may have provided that.