Jerry Jones talks to Deion Sanders about the Cowboys coaching job

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  • Todd Archer, ESPN staff writerJanuary 13, 2025, 9:48 PM ET

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      Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN covering the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can follow him on Twitter at @toddarcher.

FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys are in the early stages of their search to replace Mike McCarthy as head coach, but one name is already known: former Cowboys cornerback and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

A source said Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones and Sanders spoke Monday, and while an interview has not been scheduled, the two are expected to continue their dialogue. Fox Sports first reported the conversation between the two sides.

Sanders was linked to a Cowboys job that wasn’t even open this fall.

“Hearing from Jerry Jones is really nice and it’s exciting,” Sanders told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday night. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. When you hang up and process it and think about it, it’s exciting. But I love Boulder and everything about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.”

Sanders just finished his second season in Colorado, posting a 13-12 record, including a 9-4 mark in 2024, when the Buffaloes had the Heisman Trophy winner in wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

In November, Sanders was asked about potential interest from NFL teams.

“I’m happy where I’m at, man,” Sanders said. “I’ve got a leg down. You know what a leg is? … It means I’m resting. I feel good, I’m happy, I’m excited. I’m excited about where I’m at. I love this, I really do.”

Sanders received a five-year, $29.5 million contract when he was hired by Colorado in late 2022 following his successful run at Jackson State.

Sanders played five seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Cowboys, helping the team win Super Bowl XXX in 1996 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He remained in North Texas after his playing career ended and has maintained a close relationship with the Jones family.

According to the NFL’s Rooney Rule, teams must interview two outside minority head coaching candidates in their search.

The Cowboys announced Monday that they and McCarthy would part ways after five seasons. McCarthy had a 49-35 record in the regular season, including a 7-10 mark this season.

Rules prohibit interviews from being scheduled yet, but McCarthy is expected to interview with the Chicago Bears as early as Wednesday, according to multiple sources. The New Orleans Saints are also expected to interview McCarthy.