Ben Johnson Hire Reveals Brutally Frank Truth in Cowboys Coach Search

FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys' head coaching search is in full swing with candidates starting to emerge. Kellen Moore has seemingly gained an inside edge though surprise names spanning a wide spectrum like Deion Sanders, Jason Witten and now Brian Schottenheimer have stolen some spotlight. 

Leslie Frazier, an outlier candidate in this process, interviewed with the team, marking the team's third interview in their search. He joins a short list of targets that have spoken with the Cowboys that includes Moore and Robert Saleh. 

Rather than what the Cowboys are doing to fill this vacancy, fans are drawing a focus toward what has not been accomplished here. Those grievances amplified with the Chicago Bears' hire of Ben Johnson on Monday. 

 

The hire happens a bit faster than anticipated following the Detroit Lions' early exit from the postseason Saturday evening. However, the Bears had reportedly narrowed their search to two: Johnson and former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. 

But Cowboys fans, still engulfed in the culmination of disappointment and uncertainty of McCarthy's exit following a downtrodden season, see this as more reason to fire off their criticisms of the organization. 

Initially, those feelings are understandable. Dallas did not communicate with Johnson and showed no interest in what many presume to be the top target in this offseason's coaching cycle. 

However, that view ignores the brutally frank about Johnson's status in the Cowboys' coaching search. Johnson has the resumé deserving to be a head coach in the NFL, but it was never happening here. 

Dallas' next head coach will likely come from one of two pools of candidates, one emphasizing connections to the franchise and the other stressing head coaching experience.

Johnson does not fit either group and would have been a hire outside the norm. 

In addition to Dallas not moving on him, it's possible that the Cowboys knew he was Chicago-bound all along and therefore didn't bother with any charade.

No matter what dramatics stir from this Johnson news, they do not change the fact he was not a serious candidate for this job from the jump.