Who could replace Mike McCarthy in 2025

On By Littum

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The Dallas Cowboys is back in prime time and hosts the AFC South leaders Houston Texas on “Monday Night Football” in week 11.

The Cowboys (3-6) have lost four straight entering Week 11, most recently a 34-6 blowout at the hands of division rival Philadelphia. With quarterback Dak Prescott out for the year, the offense struggled to a season-worst 146 yards. They’ve gone from the top-scoring offense in the NFL last season to 23rd in points and are closer to the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft than a playoff berth.

A loss to the Texans (6-4) could raise the temperature on Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s already hot seat. Dallas did not extend his contract before the season, meaning they could get a new head coach in 2025 without owing McCarthy any money.

Here are the top candidates who could replace him in 2025 (all stats going into Week 11):

Top NFL coaching candidates for 2025

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Johnson is one of the most respected offensive minds in the NFL. The Lions are second in the NFL in points per game. game (31.6) and eighth in yards. Despite a five-turnover performance in Week 10, Detroit still ranks fifth in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per game. game of 0.09. He has built one of the best attacks in the league for several years. Johnson will have his pick of head coaching options next season, and Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb could be attractive options.

Kliff Kingsbury, Washington’s commanders offensive coordinator

Dallas could again choose to take a former head coach who took a year off from the NFL as their new head coach. Kingsbury is a candidate to return to a head coaching position because of how good the Commanders’ offense has been at all levels. Veteran linemen like Sam Cosmi are playing the best football of their careers, quarterback Jayden Daniels could set rookie records and the offense is No. 1 in the league in EPA/rush (0.14). However, he may already be in demand elsewhere, and could choose to coach a young quarterback over Prescott.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

Brady’s built a more diverse offense around star quarterback Josh Allen over the past year and a half. The Bills have the No. 3 scoring offense in the league, scoring 29 points per game. game and one of the most efficient with 0.16 EPA/game (third in NFL). They are second in EPA/pass (0.22) and EPA/rush (0.11). How he has taken a talented quarterback and shaped the offense around him should be exciting for the Cowboys.

Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator

It took some time, but the Lions are winning with their defense, not in spite of it, with another year under Glenn. The former cornerback played two seasons with the Cowboys (2005-06) and had five interceptions in his time. The Lions boast the top-scoring defense in the league entering Week 11, even without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, and are especially strong against the run, an area the Cowboys have struggled in during the 2024 season. If the Cowboys select a defensive mind after McCarthy, who specializes in offense, Glenn should get a look.

Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator

The Cardinals have become one of the better offenses in the league in 2024. They rank ninth in EPA/game (0.07) ahead of offenses like Kansas City (0.06) and Green Bay (0.04). They are a top-five rushing offense again this season and rank 13th in points per game. battle (23.8). If the Cardinals can win their first NFC West title since 2015, it will be behind a strong offense, and Petzing will rightfully have head coaching interest. His creativity in personnel and development of players like Trey McBride bodes well for a future head coaching position.

Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator

Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator before Coen – Dave Canales – got the head coaching job in Carolina after one season. But the Buccaneers are playing better on offense this year under Coen despite losing top wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for several weeks and the season, respectively, before the season’s halfway point.

The Buccaneers jumped from the worst rushing offense in the NFL last season under Canales to 11th under Coen this year. They went from 17th in passing to sixth with the same quarterback and worse wide receiver health. Based on advance polls, they are the eighth-best offense by EPA/play in the league. Coen deserves attention for how he has crafted an offense that maximizes its talent, even with inferior talent.

Bobby Slowik, Houston Texas offensive coordinator

The Texans’ offense has cooled off this season thanks to injuries and shaky play on the offensive line, but Slowik will get some interest as a head coach. Wide receiver Nico Collins has turned into a Pro Bowl-caliber wide receiver under his tutelage, and CJ Stroud is also one of the best young quarterbacks in the league under him. He already had interviews after last season from teams, and Dallas may interview him again.

Mike McCarthy contract

The Cowboys did not extend McCarthy’s contract ahead of the 2024 season, meaning he is in the final year of a 5-year deal he signed in 2020. No details have been reported, but McCarthy is estimated to be paid 4- 7 million dollars per this agreement.

Mike McCarthy Stats

Through Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, McCarthy has gone 45-31 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason. Here’s how the Cowboys offense and defense have ranked in his time as head coach:

2020 (6-10)

  • Offense: 14th in yards, 17th in points
  • Defense: 23rd in yards, 28th in points

2021 (12-5)

  • Offense: 1st in yards, 1st in points
  • Defense: 19th in yards, 7th in points

2022 (12-5)

  • Offense: 11th in yards, 4th in points
  • Defense: 12th in yards, 5th in points

2023 (12-5)

  • Offense: 5th in yards, 1st in points
  • Defense: 5th in yards, 5th in points

2024 (3-6)

  • Offense: 21st in yards, 23rd in points
  • Defense: 26th in yards, 31st in points

If the Cowboys want to reshape the roster after the season, they will have less cap space than most NFL franchises. The team has $24.02 million in cap space for 2025 at the time of publication OverTheCapwhich is 23rd in the NFL.

The biggest cap hits on the books next season for Dallas are Prescott at $89.89 million and Lamb at $35.45 million.