Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: Jerry Plans 'Home-Run Hire' at Coach, 'Swing For Fences' - Anonymous NFL Owner

Dallas Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: Jerry Jones Plans 'Home-Run Hire' at Defensive Coordinator, 'Swing For Fences' - Anonymous NFL Owner

FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones vows that his organization is "all in'' toward trying to win big in 2024. And he has at least one high-powered and high-profile colleague who believes him - at least when it comes to Dallas' search for a new defensive coordinator to replace Dan Quinn.

"Watch him,'' a fellow NFL owner tells CowboysSI.com on the condition of anonymity. "Jerry wants a home-run hire. He's swinging for the fences here.''

The team owner could not offer more specifics than that as the Cowboys work to replace Quinn, who is taking over the Washington Commanders. And of course, "what Jerry wants'' is no guarantee. 

But the owner's remarks do suggest that Jones is involved in the coming hire (meaning its not solely up to head coach Mike McCarthy, who will enter his final contractual year). And they should send Cowboys Nation minds racing through the possibilities, all the way to "the fences.'' 

To wit, some names (and comments) in alphabetical order ...

Bill Belichick - Do we find this realistic? No. But Jerry is the one who brought it up in his media visit this week at the Senior Bowl, stressing how well the two of them would mesh.

“There’s no doubt in my mind,'' he said, "we could work together. None. None.”

Belichick, 71, was touted by Jones as "at the top of his profession'' and "maybe the greatest pro football coach of all time.''

jerry mccarthy belichick

All involved - especially Belichick, the deposed New England czar - would have to gorge themselves on humble pie here. But this would be one of the grandest "home-run swings'' in sports history.

And we only bring it up because for not much of any particular reason, Jerry (for whatever reason) just brought it up.

Pete Carroll - Carroll was just booted from his long-held perch in charge of the Seattle Seahawks, and says he wants to keep coaching. He has accomplished everything there is in football. Even at 72, there is no sign of any lack of energy.

Wanna keep doing "Quinn-like'' things? Hiring Carroll would be reminiscent of the '90's Cowboys who replaced Norv Turner with his mentor, Ernie Zampeze.

This would be a shocker - in a good way.

Aden Durde - Dallas' defensive line coach has long-time ties with both Quinn and the Cowboys. He's well-liked in the locker room and considered a rising star. He could go to Washington. An issue in Dallas: Does McCarthy really want to attach his wagon to a rookie defensive playcaller?

Consider that Jones and McCarthy have habitually wanted defensive coordinators with previous experience as head coaches ... and this list is full of those.

Al Harris - He's a McCarthy guy and is extremely popular with the Cowboys defensive players. (And with the DFW media.) But again, he'd be a first-timer, which conflicts with the team's history (recent defensive bosses have been Quinn, Mike Nolan and Rod Marinelli).

Harris, 49, like most every assistant on this team, would also be interested in a promotion in a move with DQ to Washington.

Wink Martindale - He's never been an NFL head coach, but at age 60, he has pretty much otherwise done it all in the NFL, including a stellar run with the Ravens before last year's flop with the Giants.

UPDATE: There are now reports of Cowboys interest here.

Ron Rivera - Sources told CowboysSI.com that Dallas wants to "visit'' with Rivera, 62, the just-fired Commanders coach.  He was the head coach of the Super Bowl Panthers and has an impressive coordinator resume.

His interview should happen early this week.

Brandon Staley - Staley was a "boy wonder'' when he jumped from the Rams coordinator job to the Chargers head coach seat. ... from which he was just ejected. He might also be considered a "future candidate'' for the top job, with a wrinkle some of these other experienced guys don't have: He's "young'' at just 41.

Mike Vrabel - Vrabel, 48, was a successful head coach in Tennessee, where he was just let go. A "leader of men'' type guy - like Quinn - Vrabel's grind-it-out approach has long kept undermanned teams in contention.

An added bonus here, though it would create odd chemistry in the building: If McCarthy gets fired after 2024, Vrabel - assuming his work impressed - would be a candidate to move up.

Sidebar: That "odd chemistry'' was in play with McCarthy/Quinn ... and the character of the two men kept it from being a problem. McCarthy/Vrabel could have the same positive and trusting dynamic.

Joe Whitt Jr. - The Cowboys have long thought of simply promoting him when Quinn leaves. That could still happen - but sources close to Whitt and Quinn tell us "they are attached at the hip,'' meaning Whitt, 45, has a good shot at being the coordinator in Washington.

And what about Whitt telling CowboysSI.com that his "dream'' was always to be affiliated with "The Star''? Think about it. He's been doing that for three years.

Now maybe it's time for another Dallas dream - a "home-run hire'' with Whitt moving on.

UPDATE: Late Sunday, Whitt cancelled his Cowboys interview - a process that starts with various candidates at 9 a.m. Monday here in Frisco - and is officially joining DQ in DC.

Mike Zimmer - His "footprint ties'' are everywhere. He's a Cowboys guy, a Jones guy, a long-time friendly foe of McCarthy (McCarthy in Green Bay while Zimmer, 67, was the head coach in Minnesota). He can run any kind of defense and his mentor/connections include everybody from Barry Switzer to Bill Parcells to Deion Sanders, his close friend with whom he's most recently worked at Colorado.

CowboysSI.com was the first to report on Zimmer and Dallas considering a reunion ... And now we know a meeting is scheduled.

Zimmer? Yes, making him Dallas’ defensive coordinator one again would be considered a "home run'' inside The Star.

And a "home run,'' according to one NFL owner, is what Jerry wants.