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Josh McDaniels Now Favored to Be Cowboys Head Coach in 2020, Should Jerry Jones Fire Garrett

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Apr 14, 2020 · 8:25 AM PDT

Josh McDaniels seated
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is now listed as the +300 favorite to be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Photo by Sharanr (Wiki Commons) [CCLicense]
  • New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is listed as the +300 favorite to be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys
  • McDaniels opened last week as second choice in this betting market at +400
  • Despite a three-game losing streak, Jason Garrett remains head coach of the 6-7 Cowboys

Jason Garrett is still the head coach of the failing Dallas Cowboys. Josh McDaniels is now the betting favorite to ultimately replace Garrett, but it’s not like McDaniels hasn’t turned down a job that was his before.

Thursday’s 31-24 loss to the Chicago Bears dropped Dallas to 6-7 on the season. It was the third loss in a row for the Cowboys and dropped them from favored status to win the NFC East.

The black cloud forming over Garrett grew more ominous, even as owner Jerry Jones seemed to offer his embattled coach another vote of confidence post-game Thursday.

That isn’t going to stop the speculation from swirling, though.

A betting market on Garrett’s future as coach in Dallas opened last week. Urban Meyer was the opening-line favorite at +300, followed by McDaniels at +400.

Odds to Coach the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, 2020

Coach Odds
Josh McDaniels +300
Urban Meyer +400
Robert Saleh +500
Lincoln Riley +600
Sean Payton +600
Jim Harbaugh +1000
Ron Rivera +1000
Chris Petersen +1200
Ken Norton Jr +1600
Kris Richard +1600
Mike Leach +2000
Matt Rhule +3300
Jim Schwartz +3300
Mike Gundy +5000
Tony Romo +6600

Odds taken Dec. 6. Note that there’s only action on this wager if Garrett is no longer Dallas head coach.

A week later, McDanels and Meyer changed places. McDaniels jumped up to be the +300 chalk, followed by Meyer at +400.

Garrett Going, Going, Gone?

While Jones continues to endorse Garrett, the reality would appear to be that he’ll finish out the 2019 NFL season and then be handed his walking papers.

This is his 10th season at the helm. He’s 83-66 (.557) in charge but just 2-3 in the playoffs.

Dallas has never advanced beyond the NFL Divisional Playoff round on Garrett’s watch.

Did McDaniels Burn His Bridges?

Football teams are big on commitment. They preach it every day in practice, they expose a lack of it in the film room and demand it on the sideline during the game.

Two years ago, McDaniels make a big commitment. He agreed to leave his position as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots to accept the head-coaching position of the Indianapolis Colts.

Two days later, and on the eve of the press conference slated in Indy to introduce him as the next coach of the Colts, McDaniels contacted the team and told them he was reneging on the deal.

Last season, only two NFL teams – the Bengals and Browns – contacted McDaniels regarding their head-coaching vacancies.

Now, you can argue that it’s an offensive coordinator’s prerogative to change his mind. But NFL owners are a tight-knit group. If they decide you’re not getting another shot, they can make it happen.

If you don’t believe that to be so, you obviously haven’t been following Colin Kaepernick’s career.

Jones Doesn’t Do Safe

McDaniels would be a safe pick. Ron Rivera, just fired by the Carolina Panthers, is a safe pick.

Jones rarely goes the safe route.

In checking the odds in motion on the Cowboys’ next coach board, look down a bit to some seismic shifts that took place. Chris Petersen, who recently stepped down as coach of the NCAA Washington Huskies, dropped from +2500 to +1200. Baylor coach Matt Rhule went from +6600 to +3300.

When Petersen was head coach at Boise State, his quarterback was current Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Jones won his Super Bowls with former college coaches – Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer – in charge.

Pick: Chris Petersen (+1200).

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