Dallas Cowboys Likely to Start 2022 With Coaching Continuity

Every offseason begins with numerous coaching vacancies that can cause numerous issues for teams as they begin working toward the next season, and 2022 is no different. Before the season had even finished, nine head coaching jobs opened up as a result of firings and retirement. 

Three of the Cowboys‘ coaches seemed vulnerable only a week ago, starting with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

The other name in the mix is second-year head coach Mike McCarthy, who took the brunt of the blame for the Cowboys’ failure to defeat the San Francisco 49ers on Super Wild Card Weekend.

News broke on January 27 that Quinn had decided to remain with the Cowboys despite being one of the front-running candidates to take a head coaching spot. Quinn was formerly a head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, leading that team to a Super Bowl and rebuilding the team as a force in the NFC South division. Quinn had interviews with New York, Denver, Miami, and Chicago, where he was viewed as a likely candidate, but ultimately decided to remain in Dallas.  

Following the playoff loss to the 49ers, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed a lack of confidence in the coaching staff, telling reporters that he “had a lot to think about with these coaches.

Ultimately, Jones and the Cowboys organization walked back those comments, particularly in relation to McCarthy, who will begin his third season in Dallas in 2022. 

“My goal was to keep the continuity of this group together. We met many times face to face (with) Dan – myself and Mike – to coordinate and talk to him,” Jones said, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “We were very much in a competitive environment because we felt Dan did have the opportunity to be a (head coach).”

Jones also addressed the discussion about the possibility of bringing Sean Payton, former head coach of the New Orleans Saints, back into the fold. Payton served as assistant head coach and quarterback coach for two seasons in the mid-2000s. 

“I understand the speculation. Sean is an outstanding coach. But I haven’t talked to him and am not in any way part of his departure there in New Orleans,” Jones said, according to Moore. “He didn’t have any place in anything I’m doing regarding our staff.”

As for offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, he is currently anticipated to remain in Dallas, but his name has also been discussed in the head coach hiring circus.

Moore is expected to interview for a second time for the Miami Dolphins head coach gig but is likely a second- or third-tier option, given the level of coaching talent and experience on the market. 

The Dolphins are also requesting a second interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Daboll has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator and coached the Dolphins’ young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa while he was a student at Alabama.

With most of the questions about the coaching staff largely answered, the team will turn its focus to handling the current crop of players who are unrestricted free agents this offseason, many of whom were key contributors to the Cowboys’ 2021 success.