Cowboys' next coach odds: Deion Sanders favored to land in Dallas

Anything Jerry Jones' Cowboys are involved in is a spectacle. That includes a coaching search, which formally began Monday after the Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy, who earned three playoff trips in five seasons.

Most franchises decided on their coaches' futures a week ago, but Jones abides by his own timeline. The Cowboys blocked McCarthy from interviewing with other organizations while teams conducted countless interviews over the past week. McCarthy and the Cowboys are late to the coaching carousel, and Dallas might have missed out on certain candidates by waiting - the Patriots already hired Mike Vrabel. Jones' circus-like operation never operates ordinarily.

Jones is now looking for his ninth coach since he bought the Cowboys in 1989. Time is running out for the 82-year-old to win his first Super Bowl in almost 30 years. So, who do oddsmakers think will roam the sidelines next for America's team?

Cowboys next coach odds

Odds via theScore Bet

While the Cowboys are often the NFL's laughingstock despite having the largest fan base, any coach taking the job will enter a solid situation. Dallas has a talented and (mostly) reliable quarterback in Dak Prescott, a star wide receiver in CeeDee Lamb, and perhaps the best defensive player in the sport in Micah Parsons.

Jones is a questionable general manager and refuses to relinquish those responsibilities, but the roster is solid enough to contend immediately with marginal improvements through the draft and free agency.

Any prospective coach must deal with a meddling owner whose ego and constant attention-seeking often distract from the team. But that's why the favorite to become the next Cowboys coach could be perfect for the job. No one earns more attention than Deion Sanders. He has the moniker Prime Time for a reason. The sports world's infatuation with Sanders as an athlete and, more recently, a coach has made him an A-list celebrity.

This wouldn't be the Lakers hiring JJ Redick with zero coaching experience because he was successful on camera. Sanders is a proven coach at the collegiate level. He accepted a job at Colorado in 2023 after patrolling the sidelines at the FCS level. Sanders revived a dying program while increasing his players' draft value, including his son and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Colorado won one game before Sanders moved to Boulder. He completely upended the roster and controversially forced kids to transfer. The Buffaloes won four contests in his first year, but a late-season collapse led to skeptics growing louder. However, Colorado claimed nine victories and was in the mix for the Big 12 title this past campaign.

Sanders proved he can build a winning culture. With the younger Sanders entering the NFL draft and projected to be a top pick, murmurs began that the elder Sanders could leap from college to the pros alongside his son.

The only team Sanders has been credibly linked to is the Cowboys. Jones and Sanders reportedly spoke about the job Monday, and Sanders was intrigued by the call. There's apparently been no formal interview yet between the sides. Sanders and Jones have a long-standing relationship, with the Hall of Famer playing five of his 14 illustrious seasons in Dallas from 1995-99.

Jones has typically hired quieter personalities to ensure he remains the face of the team. Sanders is anything but a reserved personality. He might not help the Cowboys achieve more playoff success, but the Star and Prime Time are a match made in heaven for the cameras.

Kellen Moore was on Dallas' coaching staff for five years, including four as the offensive coordinator under Jason Garrett and McCarthy. He and the Cowboys parted ways after the 2022 season. Moore currently serves as the Eagles offensive coordinator and play-caller, leading one of the league's best offenses. He's familiar with Prescott and is an offensive-minded coach, which could entice Jones.

Kliff Kingsbury is another offensive coordinator Dallas might try to poach from a division rival. His first stint as a head coach didn't work out in Arizona, where he was fired after one winning campaign in four seasons. However, Kingsbury has revitalized his name in coaching searches as the Commanders' offensive coordinator and play-caller. Jayden Daniels' development and Washington's offensive prowess could earn Kingsbury a job in Dallas or elsewhere.

Joe Brady and Ben Johnson are hot coaching candidates as offensive coordinators for the Bills and Lions, respectively. However, the Cowboys are behind, as each coach has already interviewed with other teams. Johnson is the most attractive name in this cycle. He had various coaching offers last season but elected to stay with the Lions. The 38-year-old is reportedly being selective about where he ends up again.

While many of the essential pieces are in place for Dallas, it's hard to imagine a coach being particular about their destination choosing an organization as dysfunctional as Dallas.

Sanders is the favorite and certainly makes sense, but it shouldn't shock NFL fans if Jones hires an out-of-the-box candidate.

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.