Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reporter addresses Deion Sanders-Cowboys rumors

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Nov 19, 2024 12:52 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys fans who hope the team hires Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders should let go of that pipe dream.

Dallas HC Mike McCarthy is in the last year of his contract. After a 34-10 loss to the Texans on Monday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated he isn't planning to fire the coach during the season. However, a 3-7 start could seal his fate.

Sanders played cornerback/wide receiver for the Cowboys from 1995-99, winning Super Bowl XXX. Despite the Pro Football Hall of Famer's ties to the franchise, The Athletic's Dianna Russini thinks he'll stay with Colorado.

"It's not real," Russini said of the Cowboys-Sanders rumors Tuesday on "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz." "Just from the conversations I've had, I think Deion actually wants to stay in college. We'll start there. I know he's been public about that as well."

How real are the Deion Sanders and Dallas Cowboys rumors?

"It's not real... I think Deion actually wants to stay in college. I know he's been public about that as well." @DMRussini on Deion Sanders being linked to the Dallas Cowboys job.

WATCH: https://t.co/T7IK21WgSv pic.twitter.com/FbE7Dx7f81
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) November 19, 2024

In a recent interview with FS1's "SPEAK," Sanders said, "I love it where I am," suggesting he wants to keep building a successful program.

After the Buffaloes went 4-8 in his first season, they've become a College Football Playoff contender in 2024. As of Tuesday, ESPN's Football Power Index gives Colorado (8-2) the best chance (43.4%) to win the Big 12.

Even if Sanders was interested, the Cowboys probably wouldn't pursue him. Russini added they don't want a first-time NFL HC.

"I think that they're going to be looking more towards a coach with experience in the league and not do a first-time-head-coach scenario," she said. "I don't think they're against that idea of a former player turned head coach. I just don't believe that's the direction that they're going to go in for now."

The upcoming coaching cycle should include big names like Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel. Perhaps the Cowboys would target them instead of Sanders.

While Sanders coaching the Cowboys could be an intriguing hypothetical, it doesn't sound like it will happen anytime soon.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: