Cowboys Considering Deion Sanders For Head Coaching Job
10:35pm: Sanders acknowledged that Jones reached out to him about the Cowboys HC job, but the coach also reiterated his commitment to Colorado.
“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Deion Sanders said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.”
7:50pm: While Deion Sanders has been mentioned as a potential candidate for a handful of NFL jobs, the Colorado head coach has yet to garner definitive interest from an organization. It sounds like that’s about to change, as the Cowboys apparently have their former star player on their radar.
[RELATED: Mike McCarthy Will Not Return As Cowboys’ Head Coach]
According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken with Sanders about the team’s head coaching vacancy. “Discussions are expected to continue,” and Prime is considered a top candidate for the position. At the same time, Schultz cautions that the organization plans to interview other candidates as part of their process. The two sides haven’t scheduled an interview, but they’re expected to continue the dialogue, per Schultz.
Sanders, of course, had a standout five-year stint with the organization after the Cowboys won the “Deion Sweepstakes” during the 1995 offseason. While Sanders was limited to only nine games during his debut season in Dallas, he had a productive three-game postseason run to a Super Bowl championship (his second-straight after his one-season stop in San Francisco). Sanders proceeded to earn three-straight first-team All-Pro nods with the Cowboys between 1996 and 1998, but he was released due to salary-cap constraints following the 1999 campaign.
Close to two decades after his playing career ended, Sanders returned to the sideline as head coach of his own Prime Prep Academy. After coaching his sons for a year in high school, he was named head coach of Jackson State University, where he spent three seasons. He parlayed that performance into a gig at Colorado, where he had a chance to once again coach his son, Shedeur Sanders. Colorado’s run this past season solidified Sanders as an up-and-coming head coach, and it didn’t take long for the Hall of Famer to be connected to NFL coaching vacancies.
That included the job in Las Vegas, which Sanders was reportedly eyeing. The coach has a relationship with Tom Brady (who is spearheading the Raiders search), and there’s a chance the organization could make a move for Shedeur in the draft. Ultimately, the Raiders denied their interest in Sanders, but it didn’t take long for Prime Time to pop back up as a candidate in Dallas.
The Cowboys announced today that they’re moving on from Mike McCarthy, opening the door for a potential Dallas return for Sanders. The coach previously said he’d only consider a move to the NFL if he had the opportunity to coach his son, and with Dak Prescott attached to a newly-inked extension, it seems unlikely that Shedeur would land in Dallas. However, perhaps Deion would change his tune considering his relationship with the Cowboys organization. Schultz echoes the sentiment that Sanders has generally dismissed a move to the NFL, “but this was one call he wasn’t going to ignore.”
Bears Schedule Mike McCarthy Interview
With Mike McCarthy a coaching free agent after he and the Cowboys did not reach serious negotiations on a new deal, the Bears are back in play. And they will meet with the five-year Cowboys leader.
McCarthy will interview for the Chicago HC job Wednesday, the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore reports. The Bears had requested a McCarthy meeting while he was still under contract, but the Cowboys blocked it. That is no longer in the equation, and the Bears will take advantage.
It’s rare to see an organization request a HC interview with another team’s head coach, although perhaps the Bears were reading the tea leafs ahead of the Dallas divorce. Chicago’s request also revealed that the front office would be willing to consider a trade for a head coach. Of course, that route seemed unlikely with Dallas considering the coach’s expiring contract, and now the Bears won’t face any restrictions as they consider McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy.
The Bears have left no stone unturned in their search for a new head coach, with the team’s long list of candidates only rivaling the Jets during this year’s hiring cycle. McCarthy would naturally represent one of the more experienced names on the list, although the Bears haven’t really hinted at whether they’re seeking a veteran coach or a fresh face. The team’s search has ranged from the likes of long-time coach Pete Carroll to Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, who doesn’t have any NFL experience.
Considering McCarthy’s penchant for developing quarterbacks, it’s not a surprise that the Bears would consider the long-time coach as they look to maximize first-overall pick Caleb Williams. McCarthy, of course, helped oversee the Packers’ transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, and he finished his 13-year Green Bay tenure with only three losing seasons.
Dak Prescott was already well established when McCarthy was installed as the Cowboys’ head coach, and there was hope that the fresh voice could help guide Dallas to the promised land. That obviously didn’t come to fruition, and McCarthy started gaining a reputation as a playoff failure. For a Bears team that’s simply looking to regain some credibility, that sentiment probably won’t be a major concern.
McCarthy is the 20th name connected to the Bears head coaching vacancy. Per our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker, the rest of that group includes:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Expressed interest
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/13
- Matt Campbell, head coach (Iowa State): Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Team wants to interview
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/9
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interview requested
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Mike McCarthy Fallout: Failed Negotiations, Cowboys Candidates, McCarthy Suitors
The Mike McCarthy era in Dallas finally came to an end today, as the team announced that they wouldn’t be re-signing their head coach. With McCarthy’s contract set to expire tomorrow, the two sides were reportedly negotiating the terms of a new deal. However, it sounds like true contract talks never took place.
[RELATED: Cowboys Considering Deion Sanders For Head Coaching Job]
In a statement, owner Jerry Jones clearly stated that he made the determination to move on from McCarthy before any contract talks could commence.
“Over the past week, Mike [McCarthy] and I had the opportunity to conduct a joint review of all aspects of the past season, our players and staff, and also spent considerable time discussing the road forward for the team,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “These discussions were thorough and received an appropriate amount of time and depth to cover. Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction.”
While Jones’ statement was pretty clear, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero slightly pushes back at the notion that the two sides never discussed a new contract. Pelissero somewhat points to semantics, noting that “contract negotiations” would signal a definitive exchange of proposals (vs. the informal “talks”). Either way, the reporter believes the two sides did indeed discuss a path forward but ultimately couldn’t agree on contract length.
It didn’t take long for the Cowboys to start preparing for their impending head coaching search. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the team’s decision makers took part in “inclusive hiring training” this afternoon, only hours after news broke of the McCarthy divorce. Soon, we’ll start hearing of some definitive candidates, but the rumor mill is already churning with potential names. Deion Sanders has already been linked to the Cowboys, and there are some initial rumblings surrounding other big names.
Predictably, the biggest name on the market will be connected to the offseason’s biggest vacancy. Sources told Jonathan Jones that Bill Belichick could be towards the top of the organization’s list of candidates, and sources also told the reporter that the iconic HC would have interest in the Dallas gig if it became available. While Belichick’s UNC contract includes a $10MM buyout, sources believe that penalty wouldn’t stop owners from pursuing the future Hall of Famer. Still, many reporters (including Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com) are skeptical that Jones would be willing to pay for a buyout…a relevant note in their potential pursuits of Belichick and Sanders.
Jonathan Jones also suggests that the Cowboys could look to the college ranks for another candidate: Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. The long-time college coach has never held the HC role in the NFL, although he did have a stint as the Falcons offensive coordinator. Sarkisian would also require a buyout. Among current NFL coaches, two popular names are also expected to be on the team’s list of candidates. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Eagles OC Kellen Moore is a name to watch. Moore, of course, finished his playing career with the Cowboys before moving to the sideline, where he worked his way up from QBs coach to offensive coordinator.
The Cowboys will presumably also have interest in Lions Ben Johnson, but the team missed their window to interview the popular HC candidate. As Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes, the Cowboys will now have to wait until Detroit is knocked out of the playoffs until they can talk to Johnson about their vacancy. Fortunately, Jonathan Jones notes that Johnson shut down communication with teams following the first round of interviews, as the coordinator is now solely focused on Detroit’s playoff run. So, if the Cowboys do truly have interest in Johnson, it shouldn’t take a whole lot for the team to make up ground on their competition.
As for McCarthy, the veteran head coach has reportedly already scheduled an interview with the Bears, and NFL Network’s Jane Slater says Chicago’s interest is “very real.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Saints are also expected to show interest in McCarthy; New Orleans was listed as a potential landing spot for the coach before his ouster in Dallas.
The rest of McCarthy’s staff is also free to speak with teams starting today, per Albert Breer of SI.com. Practically the entire Cowboys staff had expiring contracts, and Slater notes that there were some assistants who grew tired of the lack of uncertainty over their futures. It sounds like that includes Mike Zimmer, as the defensive coordinator has contemplated retirement, per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. Zimmer just joined the Cowboys last offseason, and it was believed that his status with the organization would be tied to McCarthy’s status.
49ers Interview Noah Pauley For OC Job
The 49ers “search” for a new offensive coordinator appears to be a formality before the team inevitably promotes Klay Kubiak to the role. However, as the team complies with the NFL’s required process (which includes the Rooney Rule), they’re taking a look at some outside options. The team announced that they interviewed Noah Pauley for the job today.
Pauley made a name for himself during his time at North Dakota State. He served as the team’s pass game coordinator while helping coach eventual third-overall pick Trey Lance and All-American wide receiver (and eventual second-round pick) Christian Watson.
He most recently coached wide receivers and served as pass game coordinator at Iowa State. Jaylin Noel (80 catches, 1,194 yards, eight touchdowns) and Jayden Higgins (87 catches, 1,183 yards, nine touchdowns) both had standout seasons under Pauley’s tutelage. The coach also briefly worked with the Packers through the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan revealed the other day that Kubiak, who most recently served as the team’s offensive passing game specialist (and de facto OC), would earn a promotion to the full-time coordinator role this offseason. However, the NFL quickly stepped in, informing the organization that they had to comply to the open-search process before naming someone in the role. This also meant the 49ers had to include at least two minority candidates in accordance with the NFL’s Rooney Rule.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe, LB Elliott Brown, OL McClendon Curtis
Cleveland Browns
- DT Ralph Holley
Denver Broncos
- LB K.J. Cloyd, OLB Andrew Farmer, G Nick Gargiulo, DE Matt Henningsen, DB Tanner McCalister, NT Jordan Miller, CB Quinton Newsome, WR A.T. Perry, OL William Sherman, DB Keidron Smith, CB Reese Taylor, G Calvin Throckmorton, TE Thomas Yassmin
Green Bay Packers
- DL Deslin Alexandre, S Omar Brown, DL James Ester, CB Kamal Hadden, K Alex Hale, G Marquis Hayes, WR Julian Hicks, OL Donovan Jennings, WR Cornelius Johnson, CB Kalen King, DL Jeremiah Martin, TE Messiah Swinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- G Karsen Barnhart, TE McCallan Castles, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DL Christopher Hinton, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, LB Caleb Murphy, RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- OT Doug Nester
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/13/25
Just one practice squad move to pass along:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OT Marcellus Johnson
Marcellus Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Mizzou, spent much of the preseason with the Giants. He was later scooped up by the Vikings, where he had a short stint on the team’s practice squad. He’s once again landed on Minnesota’s taxi squad, and this could bode well for his chances of sticking around via a reserve/futures contract.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/13/25
Today’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: LB Cameron McGrone
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: LB Keir Thomas
The Colts announced that they’ve re-signed linebacker Cameron McGrone to a one-year extension. The former fifth-round pick has spent the past two-plus years in Indy, including a 2024 campaign where he collected six special teams tackles in nine appearances.
AFC South Notes: Colts, Titans, Johnson
If Ryan Kelly has his way, he’ll continue his career in Indianapolis. However, the impending free agent center understands that there’s no guarantee that he’ll return to the only team he’s ever played for. Following the Colts‘ season finale, the former first-round pick discussed his future in the NFL…and he seemed to hint that his long stint with the organization may have come to an end.
“I just can’t be more thankful to be drafted here nine years ago,” Kelly said (via Mike Chappell of FOX59 in Indianapolis). “Two hours from home [in West Chester, Ohio]. Through the ups and downs. There’s not another place I’d rather be. Indy will always be home. … I love the horseshoe, man. It’s been an honor to represent it the right way.”
Despite 2024 representing his age-31 season, Kelly has continued to produce. He was named an alternate on this year’s Pro Bowl squad despite missing a chunk of games due to a knee injury. He also helped anchor a strong running attack, and considering his track record, he should attract plenty of interest as a free agent. While GM Chris Ballard has recently focused on retaining his own free agents, there’s a chance the organization is priced out of the Kelly sweepstakes. If that ends up being the case, the lineman is proud of his nine years in Indy.
“If I’m part of the team going forward, great,” Kelly said. “If not, it was an honor to wear the horseshoe.”
More notes out of the AFC South…
- Sticking in Indy, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. won’t require surgery for the fracture in his back, per Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star. The Colts WR recently revealed that he dealt with the injury for much of the 2024 season, and the issue was at one point expected to end his year prematurely. Instead, Pittman proceeded to get into 16 games with the Colts, although he finished with his fewest catches and receiving yards since his rookie campaign.
- Nick Folk intends to add another season to his resume, as the kicker told Jim Wyatt of the Titans website that he intends to continue playing in 2025. The impending free agent also noted that he’d be interested in sticking with the Titans, where he’s led the NFL in field goal percentage in each of the past two years. The 17-year veteran hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in recent years, and he should be a popular name on the free agent market this offseason.
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is also interest in re-signing with the Titans, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. The former UDFA has spent his entire career in Tennessee, and 2024 marked his most productive season with the organization. NWI found the end zone nine times this past year while hauling in 32 catches for 497 yards.
- After inking a three-year contract with the Jaguars last offseason, Arik Armstead struggled to find his role, as the veteran finished with only a pair of sacks while starting one of his 17 appearances. After playing a rotational role on the edge in 2024, Armstead told reporters that he’s switching back to the interior in 2025. “I’m gonna switch back inside, which is what I wanted to do this season,” Armstead told reporters (including ESPN’s Michael DiRocco). “And I’m gonna be back playing [as the] elite player that I know I can be.” The veteran previously spent his entire career in San Francisco, and he spent his final two seasons with the 49ers primarily serving as a defensive tackle.
- Diontae Johnson acknowledged that he had an issue with a lack of targets during his 2024 stops with the Panthers and Ravens, but the wideout believes he’s in a good spot with the Texans. In fact, Johnson admitted that he was hoping to join the Texans when the Panthers shopped him at the trade deadline. “I was excited because I wanted to come here before when I was about to get traded,” Johnson said (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston). “Now that I’m here, fresh start and I’m looking forward to playing.”
Deion Sanders Eyeing Raiders’ HC Job; Team Has “Zero Interest”
JANUARY 12: The Raiders reportedly have “zero interest” in Sanders, who is only using the club for leverage, a source tells Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic (subscription required).
JANUARY 11: While Deion Sanders has continually committed to sticking with the Colorado Buffaloes, it sounds like the fast-rising head coach and NFL Hall of Fame cornerback has indeed been sniffing around at some NFL gigs. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sanders “has his eye” on the Raiders head coaching job.
[RELATED: Deion Sanders Not Talking NFL Future]
One source described Sanders as having “very strong interest” in the opening. In fact, the coach’s “NFL-connected associates” actually reached out to the Raiders to relay the message. Bonsignore cautions that it’s uncertain if the interest has been reciprocated.
Following his success at Jackson State and his 2024 run at Colorado, Sanders has been mentioned as a potential option for HC-needy teams, although the iconic player has yet to garner any official interviews. It was previously reported that Sanders’ name hadn’t been making itself around NFL circles, and vacancies in Chicago, New Orleans, or New York were described as unnatural fits.
However, a logical landing spot could be Las Vegas. Tom Brady is helping to spearhead the team’s search for a new head coach, and Bonsignore notes that the iconic QB-turned-part owner and the Sanders family “have a long relationship.” Brady has mentored Shedeur Sanders over the past few years, and TB12 eventually signed the prospect to an NIL deal. Armed with the sixth-overall pick, the Raiders might fall just outside of the range for the Colorado QB, although the team could be positioned to move up if they identify Sanders as their guy.
Deion Sanders recently said he’d only consider a move to the NFL if he could coach his son (via Bonsignore), and Las Vegas would represent one of the lone spots for that to happen. Of course, it’s a two-way street, and after dealing with a carousel of head coaches in recent years, the Raiders may not be looking to take as much of a risk with their next move.
As our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the following candidates have been connected to the Raiders:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Contacted about job
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): To interview 1/13
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/10
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/10
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): To interview 1/16
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Rumored candidate
Jets To Interview Darren Mougey, Lance Newmark, Chris Spielman For GM Job
The Jets are already well into their general manager search, and we’ve got a handful of new names to add to their robust list of candidates. According to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports, the Jets are interviewing three previously unreported candidates for the job today: Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey, Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark, and Lions executive Chris Spielman.
[RELATED: 2025 NFL General Manager Search Tracker]
The Jets are also meeting with Bengals exec Trey Brown and Vikings SVP of Player Personnel Ryan Grigson today. We learned about the organization’s interest in the duo earlier this week.
Mougey quickly climbed the ranks in Denver, working his way up from an intern to assistant general manager. He’s provided the front office with a bit of continuity over the past few years, as he is one of the few executives to work under both former general manager John Elway and current general manager George Paton.
“Darren is an outstanding evaluator who has an excellent reputation around the league as an up-and-coming personnel executive,” Paton said when Mougey earned a promotion to Director of Player Personnel in 2021. “Getting to work with Darren over the last five months, he is a strong communicator and has great leadership qualities. We’re fortunate to have Darren leading our pro and college scouting while also being a sounding board on all roster decisions.”
This isn’t Newmark’s first time meeting with the Jets; he also interviewed for the team when they were seeking a GM in 2019 (a job that ultimately went to Joe Douglas). Newmark spent 26 seasons with the Lions, and while he lost out on the team’s most-recent GM search to Brad Holmes, he still stuck around as the team’s senior director of player personnel. That was until last offseason, when Martin Mayhew lured him to Washington to serve as the Commanders assistant GM.
Speaking of the Lions, Spielman has transformed into a key member of Detroit’s front office in recent years. The former Pro Bowl Lions linebacker and FOX analyst works as a special assistant to the team’s president/CEO; he is believed to carry notable power within the organization, and the team made an effort to keep Spielman for the foreseeable future by extending his contract last offseason.
The Jets’ GM search is now at 15 names, with the group of candidates also including:
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interview requested
- Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): Interviewed 12/16
- Ray Farmer, senior personnel executive (Rams): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Gaine, assistant general manager (Bills): Interview requested
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/10
- Ryan Grigson, senior vice president of player personnel (Vikings): To interview
- Alec Halaby, assistant general manager (Eagles): Interviewed 1/8
- Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl director: Interviewed 12/19
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interviewed 1/2
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): Interviewed 12/17
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interview requested