Coach Prime’ has explained to CowboysCountry.com his view on a move to the NFL. But his truth isn’t stopping those rumors.FRISCO – Three years ago, now-Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders did his first interview on the subject of someday jumping to the NFL to take over a team. That interview was with us, and he said in no uncertain terms that he has no interest in doing so – not with his former team the Dallas Cowboys or anybody else.
Time and money and success can change things, of course. But Sanders – who deserves credit for turning around a 1-11 Buffs football team and making them bowl-eligible two years later – has remained steadfast in his plan.
There has nevertheless been speculation that “Coach Prime” might leave Boulder when his kids do. His sons, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and defensive back Shilo Sanders, along with star Travis Hunter, are likely heading to the NFL after this season.
And that speculation is too juicy for some observers to pass up so, Monday on ESPN’s “Get Up” – in the wake of another Cowboys blowout loss under the supervision of beleaguered coach Mike McCarthy (this one a 34-6 embarrassment against the visiting Eagles)
Rex Ryan offered up an idea. Ryan, himself a former NFL head coach, is suggesting that Sanders could be considered to replace McCarthy as the head coach of the Cowboys.
“Look at the Lions,” Ryan said. “Who did they hire? One of their former players, Dan Campbell. How about the Houston Texans right down the road? One of their former players, Demeco Ryans. I can see Aaron Glenn going to New Orleans next year or the Jets, former player. Deion Sanders may be in play here (in Dallas).” “May be in play”? Ryan, to be clear, has absolutely no inside information here. He’s speculating about a headline-grabbing – and old – idea.
But McCarthy is dead-man walking here, a lame-duck coach in the final year of a deal and about to be victimized by Dallas’ “Blow It Up/Remodel” plan… that is, the Joneses’ investment in winning is about 2025 much more than it was about 2024.
Meanwhile, right now, Dallas is closing in on a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft … where the aforementioned Hunter awaits. He might be the best and flashiest player in this draft. So… Deion. And Hunter. And the Cowboys?
So despite McCarthy’s regular-season success – he reached a record of 12-5 and the playoffs in each of the last three seasons – speculation is fair.
Bring up Bill Belichick and Ben Johnson and Kellen Moore and Kliff Kingsbury and Al Harris and Lincoln Riley and Deion, too. Sanders played 14 seasons in the NFL, five of which were with the Cowboys. He is a legendary figure, a Hall of Famer who is the greatest playmaking cornerback of all time.
He was a member of the last Cowboys team to win the Super Bowl in 1995, and it is understandable why some thing he would be a fit in Dallas A fit because maybe he can coach. And a fit because his show-biz persona seems like such a match with Jerry Jones’ marketing-first Cowboys Circus.