Cowboys Coach Search BREAKING: 1st Coordinator Interview - Panthers' Jeff Nixon

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is gone, and a Carolina Panthers assistant with Baylor ties gets the first interview to replace him.

FRISCO - The Carolina Panthers were already knotted with the Dallas Cowboys in terms of staff changes when they interviewed Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for the job as their new head coach.

Moore didn't get the gig. But a Panthers' staffer might get Moore's old job.

As noted by assorted outlets, Panthers running backs coach Jeff Nixon is set to interview with the Cowboys for the offensive coordinator vacancy. 

The departure of Moore, nudged out of The Star as he takes the same role for the Los Angeles Chargers, sets up head coach Mike McCarthy to find a newcomer who is "his guy'' - though there is also wisdom in exploring new ideas, in some cases via the Rooney Rule.

Nixon, 48, has extensive experience at both the NFL and college level. Before joining the Panthers staff in 2020 under then-boss Matt Rhule, Nixon spent three years at Baylor University as the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach working under Rhule.

In 2021, Rhule gave some play-calling duties to Nixon as well, fortifying a resume that of course includes the supervision of star running back Christian McCaffrey.

McCarthy surely has names from his own coaching tree like Brian Schottenheimer and Ben McAdoo as top candidates.

But there is an argument for the folks inside The Star to get to know Brian Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach who was Dak Prescott’s QB coach in his last two seasons at Mississippi State and who now has a hand in the development of Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, a leading NFL MVP candidate who is about to do something the Cowboys haven't done in more than a quarter of a century ...

Play in a Super Bowl.

As the Cowboys must follow the Rooney Rule, the list could include Thomas Brown (Rams), Byron Leftwich (ex-Bucs), Edgar Bennett (Raiders), Jim Caldwell (ex-head coach) and Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs).

It's been reported that McCarthy will now become his own play-caller, and that will be a factor in who lands this job. But while that is being ironed out, we've also suggested the idea of coaches outside McCarthy's tree, like Todd Monken of Georgia and Greg Roman, just fired by the Ravens.

It's worth noting that Kliff Kingsbury (fired as the Arizona head coach) and James Campen (long-time NFL O-line coach) have McCarthy connections - though Campen is reportedly signing back up with the Panthers.

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