Dallas Cowboys They’re in shambles right now and are closer to the number one pick in the draft than they are to playoff contention.

The team needs a change in leadership, as Mike McCarthy has failed to reduce penalties, improve the running game, and generally make sound decisions.

The smart move for the Cowboys would be to fire McCarthy immediately and begin the search for their new head coach. Here are seven head coaching candidates the Cowboys should consider:

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The idea of ​​signing one of the most creative minds in football seems even more appealing considering the Cowboys would be moving him away from his current position at division rival Washington.

Kliff Kingsbury’s first NFL head coaching tenure with the Cardinals wasn’t particularly successful, making just one playoff appearance in four seasons, but it’s fair to say he didn’t have the talent needed to fully realize his vision.

Kingsbury will bring to the Cowboys an offensive approach more suited to today’s NFL and potentially pave the way for the Cowboys’ offense.

Although Mike Vrabel did not finish his tenure with the Tennessee Titans on good terms, he still managed to lead the team to the AFC Championship; That’s something the Cowboys haven’t accomplished since 1996.

Vrabel’s 54-45 record at Tennessee is impressive, especially considering the limited talent around Derrick Henry and Jeffery Simmons.

He knows how to win with a strong running game, and recruiting him along with drafting Ashton Jeanty could be the boost the Cowboys need to get back into playoff contention.

Aaron Glenn has transformed the Detroit Lions’ defense into one of the NFL’s best run-stopping units. The Cowboys’ biggest weakness under Mike McCarthy was their inability to consistently stop the run, which makes Glenn an intriguing candidate.

He interviewed for multiple head coaching positions last season but was unable to land a role. Given the Lions’ success this year, his tenure as head coach appears to be coming to a close quickly, as he is almost certain to find a head coaching job this offseason.

Ben Johnson is probably the most expensive and sought-after option for a head coach, making him an unlikely candidate for the Cowboys.

Even if Jerry Jones was assured that hiring Johnson for $15 million a year would guarantee at least one Super Bowl, it’s unclear whether Jones would make the move given how little he’s paid past coaches.

It’s been a long time since Jones said “There’s no substitute for winning” and now he seems more focused on annual income than winning championships.

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Considering the Jets’ recent performance, it’s safe to say that Robert Saleh’s tenure with the team has been more successful than it appears. Even though he was fired after a 2-3 start, the Jets went 1-4 without him, suggesting he wasn’t the real problem.

Saleh would be a strong head coaching candidate and a much better defensive coordinator, bringing the fire the Cowboys need right now. But to be successful in Dallas, he needs to be paired with a great offensive coordinator who will make up for his lack of offense.

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The last time Deion Sanders moved to Dallas, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl. As a former player, he understands what it means to be a Dallas Cowboy, despite all the media attention and the high expectations that come with it.

This experience makes him an ideal candidate for the Cowboys’ head coaching role. He went through the circus in Dallas and emerged victorious, bringing the mentality and work ethic the team needed to be successful.

While he will need strong coordinators to back him up, Deion can be the leader that Cowboys players look up to and rally around.

Who better to lead the Cowboys than a coach who won six Super Bowls? While some may think the game has left Bill Belichick behind, it’s worth noting that he’s only six years away from his last championship.

But he’s still an unlikely fit for Dallas, as Jerry Jones is unlikely to give Belichick full control of the roster.

Belichick has always been his own decision-maker and will not accept a role in which he is a puppet. Ultimately, it will come down to whether Jones can put his own ego aside to bring in Belichick.

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