Could Jason Witten replace the Cowboys’ head coach? A legend has spoken

The Dallas Cowboys’ coaching search is still in the early going. The team only announced it was moving on from Mike McCarthy three days ago.

Of the initial list of candidates, the most headline-worthy one is Deion Sanders, who would certainly qualify as a splashy hire if he gets the job. Beyond Deion, former Cowboys quarterback and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, currently the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, is also drawing interest, along with Robert Saleh and Leslie Frazier, both of whom have interviewed already.

Jason Witten, who was a star tight end for the Cowboys for 17 seasons, has also been mentioned as a possible option. Witten, 42, has spent the last four seasons as the head coach of Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, but has no experience at the professional or college levels.

That wouldn’t stop DeMarcus Ware, Witten’s longtime teammate in Dallas, from hiring him to lead America’s Team.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated Thursday, Ware was asked who he would hire to take over for Mike McCarthy.

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware on the bench.

NEW ORLEANS – DECEMBER 19: Linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys sits in the bench during their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on December 19, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

“Probably Jason Witten,” Ware told SI. “I think he would do well in the locker room. Even though he doesn’t have total NFL experience he’s been coaching high school football for a while and you can always bring in NFL (assistants). The head coach is the motivator. The head coach is the one that organizes things the right way and I think he’d bring in the old way. Not the new school way. We need discipline. We need integrity. And we need gladiators.”

Witten was certainly a gladiator as a player. An 11-time Pro Bowler, he finished his career with 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in 271 regular season games.

After missing one game as a rookie in 2003, Witten never missed another one for the rest of his career, which concluded with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. The University of Tennessee alum did sit out the 2018 season while serving as a broadcaster for ESPN before returning to the field.

Time will tell if the Cowboys have any actual interest in Witten. The future Hall of Famer was mum when asked about the matter this week.