The Dallas Cowboys are sure to be linked to a number of star head coaches before making their next hire. But Dallas also continues to be connected to current NFL coaches as well who would generate less buzz if hired.
Yahoo Sports insider Charles Robinson predicts the Cowboys will ultimately snag Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who was previously a longtime assistant in Big D.
"Handicapping it today, I’d slot it: Dallas Cowboys: Kellen Moore ... New Orleans Saints: Mike McCarthy ... New York Jets: Aaron Glenn ... Las Vegas Raiders: Ben Johnson ... Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Coen," Robinson said in a Tuesday post on X.
However, the latest Cowboys rumors have Dallas potentially turning to college football to find their next head coach.
Lincoln Riley would be an interesting fit for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that there is buzz around the league that the Cowboys could look toward some of the top college football coaches, including the USC Trojans' Lincoln Riley.
"Many around the league expect Jerry Jones to check in on some college coaches, with names such as USC's Lincoln Riley, Texas' Steve Sarkisian, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman, Iowa State's Matt Campbell and even Colorado's Deion Sanders being speculated," Graziano wrote on Monday.
"And Jones could also lean toward someone with previous NFL head coaching experience, given that he believes his team is always in win-now mode. But Moore makes a ton of sense at this very early stage."
This would not be the first time the Cowboys were linked to Riley, who was mentioned as a potential candidate before Dallas hired Mike McCarthy in 2020. Riley has lost a bit of his luster after the Trojans went 7-6 in 2024.
The coach signed a 10-year, $110 million contract with USC. It will be worth watching to see if Sanders is the only college football coach who the Cowboys consider for the vacancy.
