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Cowboys Jerry Jones Deserves No Credit for 'Homework' in Coach Search

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Fisher | Last updated Jan 9, 2025 11:54 AM ET

FRISCO - We will give credit where credit is due when it comes to Jerry Jones and a Dallas Cowboys coach search.

Credit is not at this time due.

We will tell you the truth about the Cowboys owner's history with hirings and firings of head coaches through the years. (See the Fish Report video below).

We will tell you the truth about Jerry's two very precise habits when it comes to the NFL Coaching Carousel. (Read here).

What we will not tell you? We will not tell you that we fully believe Jerry and the Dallas front office is multi-tasking by a) conducting 2024 evaluation meetings with coach Mike McCarthy while at the same time b) conducting 2025 contract negotiations with with McCarthy while at the same time c) "doing work behind the scenes'' on some alternative candidates to McCarthy.

We had Jerry, face-to-face, insisting that a) and b) could happen simultaneously. But we know that didn't happen as of Monday. And we don't have proof that it has happened yet ... though as we are now five days into the offseason, we'd like to think it has.

But c)? We certainly respect The Athletic for painting a picture of Dallas having multiple irons in the fire as it regards candidates who might replace McCarthy should the two sides end up divorcing.

But ...

On Monday, the Bears requested to interview McCarthy and 24 hours later the Cowboys executed their contractual right to block the visit. Why? In part because the Joneses were still knee-deep in visits with the coach and his staff.

By Wednesday, I'm told the talks morphed from "evaluation'' into "negotiation.''

But where inside of this process is Jerry supposed to have built a filing cabinet full of resumes and scouting reports and profiles on coaches?

Where is the evidence that Jerry has ever done it that way?

We've seen it suggested that the Joneses doing this homework “behind the scenes” shows wisdom because they can hide their research from McCarthy.

That's bogus. There is a relatively small collection of powerful agents who represent the top coaches. The agents are a fraternity of sorts. The coaches definitely are.

There are very few secrets in those two communities. To wit:

One such superagent is Bob LaMonte. Last time I checked his client list included ...

GM-level guys like Chris Ballard, Nick Caserio, Jason Licht, Dan Morgan, Joe Schoen, Rick Spielman, Tom Telesco and Brett Veach.

Coaches like Brian Callahan, Brian Daboll, Sean McDermott, Sean McVay, Andy Reid, Zac Taylor, Jon Gruden, Doug Pederson, Bones Fassel and Steve Spagnuolo.

That's one agent's clients list. And you think there are secrets being kept here?