Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy Could Be Replaced by Bill Belichick, But Another Team May Woo Him First
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is in the final year of his contract, and despite leading the Cowboys to a victory over the New York Giants during Thursday Night Football, speculation continues about his future with the team. A familiar name that often pops up in these discussions is former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. However, according to one NFL analyst, Belichick might be courted by a different team that could outmaneuver the Cowboys.
Another NFL Head Coach Could Be on the Hot Seat
The Jacksonville Jaguars were thoroughly embarrassed on Monday Night Football on September 23, suffering a brutal 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The defeat dropped the Jaguars to 0-3 heading into Week 4, which has led to increasing chatter about the job security of head coach Doug Pederson.
“Pederson was brought in to elevate Trevor Lawrence, but the young quarterback has started to regress after signing a $55 million per year contract extension,” noted Mike Luciano of The Laundry Hat in a September 25 feature. “The offense around him is completely breaking down, adding fuel to the fire that this could be Pederson’s last year with the team.”
Luciano further states that both the Cowboys and Jaguars’ current coaching situations have drawn the attention of Bill Belichick, who is spending 2024 on a coaching sabbatical while working as an analyst. Should both teams decide to part ways with their current head coaches, Luciano suggests that Jacksonville might have the upper hand in attracting Belichick.
Jacksonville’s Potential Edge Over Dallas
According to Luciano, the Jacksonville Jaguars could offer Bill Belichick more control than the Cowboys ever could. The Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones, is notoriously hands-on when it comes to the team’s affairs, something that might deter a coach like Belichick, who would likely demand significant autonomy over both coaching and personnel decisions.
“Jacksonville’s disastrous performance against the Buffalo Bills could push owner Shad Khan to make sweeping changes, including parting ways with much-criticized general manager Trent Baalke,” Luciano writes. “This would create an opportunity for Belichick to have the final say in both coaching and roster management, a level of control that Jerry Jones would never concede.”
The possibility of Belichick gaining full control over the Jaguars’ operations could be a deciding factor, tipping the scales in favor of Jacksonville. Luciano emphasizes that after winning six championships, Belichick isn’t likely to take on a reduced role in his next coaching stint. Whoever the Cowboys hire to replace McCarthy would need to accept Jones’ dominant influence, a dynamic that has caused issues for the team in recent years.
CBS Sports’ Will Brinson also chimed in on the matter, tweeting during the Bills vs. Jaguars game about the possibility of Belichick heading to Jacksonville. “Bill Belichick: Your 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars coach,” Brinson wrote, hinting that the legendary coach might be leaning towards a move to the Florida franchise.
Jerry Jones’ Affection for Bill Belichick
One thing that’s clear is Jerry Jones’ admiration for Bill Belichick. The Cowboys owner has never shied away from praising the Patriots’ former coach. During his annual training camp press conference in July, Jones called Belichick a “friend” and had nothing but glowing remarks about him.
“I think he may be the best coach — certainly of my time — in the NFL, and I happen to be part of a team that had the great Tom Landry, and I’d put him right there,” Jones said. “Bill’s a friend and a great coach.”
Despite Jones’ kind words, the possibility remains that Belichick could be wooed away by a team offering him more control, like the Jaguars.
The upcoming NFL season could see some major coaching shakeups, with both the Cowboys and Jaguars potentially in play for one of the most successful head coaches in football history. Whether Belichick will take the helm in Dallas or opt for more authority in Jacksonville is a storyline to watch closely in the coming months.
