The Dallas Cowboys are facing mounting pressure to reevaluate the future of head coach Mike McCarthy. As McCarthy enters the final months of his contract, the Cowboys have an opportunity to part ways cleanly this offseason.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell is advocating for a bold move, suggesting the Cowboys target Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Barnwell proposes an unprecedented offer for a first-time head coach: a five-year, $125 million contract.
“Offer Ben Johnson five years and $125 million to take over as coach,” Barnwell wrote in his December 12, 2024, article titled Offseason moves to fix the 49ers, Bengals, Cowboys and Jets. “I considered suggesting the Cowboys hire Bill Belichick to immediately address the defense while leaving the offense to someone else. But with Belichick now taking the job at the University of North Carolina, Dallas may need to take a bigger swing to fix its offense.
“… The Cowboys can’t manipulate the salary cap or buy first-round picks, but spending on coaches isn’t capped. Paying Johnson this much would be a major investment and would likely frustrate other teams, but coaches are underpaid overall. This franchise is valued at over $10 billion by Forbes. If this move works, Johnson would be a bargain. If it fails, the Cowboys wouldn’t feel the financial hit.”
Why Ben Johnson Could Be the Right Fit
Johnson has been a rising star in the NFL coaching ranks and is currently leading the league’s top-scoring offense with the Lions. As of Week 15, Detroit is averaging 32.1 points per game, ranking first in the league, and is second in total yards with 422.5 per contest.
Despite his high demand, Johnson chose to stay in Detroit after the 2023 coaching carousel. His performance this season could make him an even more attractive candidate for the Cowboys if they decide to move on from McCarthy.
Mike McCarthy’s Future Hinges on Final Four Games
The decision to retain McCarthy may depend on how the Cowboys perform in their remaining games this season. Dallas chose to stick with McCarthy in 2024 despite a humiliating 48-32 loss to the Packers in the first round of the playoffs.
However, bringing McCarthy back in 2025 would require a new contract, signaling a greater long-term commitment. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, McCarthy’s fate likely hinges on how Dallas finishes its final four games.
“Around the league, speculation is swirling about McCarthy’s future, including from those hoping for a chance to coach the Cowboys,” Russini reported in her December 14 article, Russini’s what I’m hearing: The biggest Belichick twist; about those Kyle Shanahan rumors.
“Many believe the team’s performance in these final games will be critical, with some executives thinking Dallas might retain their ‘lame duck’ coach if progress is evident and the locker room continues to back McCarthy.
“… One NFL executive (not with the Cowboys) noted, ‘It will be important for McCarthy to finish strong for [Jerry] Jones to stay the course.’”
