Cowboys reportedly interested in former Patriots Coach for vacancy

The Dallas Cowboys are a little more patient in the search for their next head coach than the New England Patriots.

While Robert Kraft named Mike Vrabel as Jerod Mayo’s successor exactly one week after moving on from the first-year coach, Jerry Jones is nearly two weeks into his search for Mike McCarthy’s replacement.

Jones has reportedly reached out to former Patriots and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris.

“The conversation has been described as informal, although the interest is legitimate enough to be reported,” Harris wrote. “There are no firm plans for a formal conversation from Thursday afternoon.”

Carroll may have an advantage in the vacancy because the Super Bowl XLVIII champion has ties within the Cowboys organization. Current Dallas offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was on Carroll’s staff in Seattle, and Cowboys offensive line coach Mike Solari held the same position for the Seahawks under Carroll.

Jones began his search for McCarthy’s replacement with a conversation with Colorado coach Deion Sanders that hasn’t materialized since. Seattle assistant Leslie Frazier, former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh and Schottenheimer are the only personal interviews Jones has conducted. Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had a virtual interview as his team is still in the playoffs.

Carroll has 18 seasons of NFL head coaching experience. In New England, he led the Patriots to a 27-21 record over three seasons. The Patriots made the playoffs in his first two seasons, but after missing the playoffs in 1999, Kraft fired Carroll and hired Bill Belichick as his successor.