Troy Aikman offers 'compelling reasons' making case for Deion Sanders as Cowboys head coach

With Mike McCarthy out of a contract after the 2024 season, there’s a chance the Dallas Cowboys (5-8) could have a new head coach in 2025. Cowboys legend Troy Aikman made the case for Deion Sanders to replace McCarthy while speaking with TMZ Sports.

“I could see it,” Aikman said. “First of all, if Deion were to get hired whether it’s in Dallas or anywhere in the NFL — he gets hired because he’s a good football coach first and foremost. But secondly, I do know that Jerry [Jones] is a world class marketer. Deion obviously is not far behind that, and I think if you were to put the two together it would be quite interesting. I think there’s some compelling reasons to why Jerry might have an interest. Deion’s done a great job there in Boulder, and I think when he says, ‘Hey, I’ve put the kickstand down,’ that’s simply alerting everyone that if you want him, you’re gonna have to pay for him, which is not a surprise either.

“I do think that Deion could be enticed especially with his son Shedeur Sanders moving on and going to the NFL. … There not welded to the ground [Sanders’ kickstand in Boulder], you can raise them.”

If Troy Aikman were running an NFL team, he'd clearly have no qualms heading into the 2025 season with #ShedeurSanders under center … telling us he absolutely loves the Colorado QB's game. pic.twitter.com/9mHYxI3soX

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) December 15, 2024

Deion Sanders has a ‘kickstand’ down in Boulder

As we know, the Cowboys are the biggest brand in the NFL. Sanders is the biggest brand in college football. Jones loves Dallas being in the spotlight. From every angle, it seems like a perfect fit. But would Sanders really be interested in leaving Colorado given what he’s built in a short amount of time? The Buffaloes, after going 4-8 in year one under Sanders, went 9-3 during the 2024 regular season falling just short of a Big 12 Championship Game berth.

To this point, Sanders has indicated zero interest in making the jump to professional football.

“I am happy where I am, man. I’m good. I got a kickstand down,” Sanders said last month. “You know what a kickstand is? A lot of people in here at an age they don’t know what a kickstand is. That means I’m resting, I’m good, I’m happy. I’m excited, I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, truly do. Next question.”

The Cowboys could also decide to bring McCarthy back, which Jones has previously said is an option. McCarthy, 61, has led the Cowboys to three playoff appearances and two NFC East division titles. Dallas, however, has just one postseason victory to show for it. A five-game losing streak following a 3-2 start to the season didn’t seem to help McCarthy’s cause, though Dallas has been ravaged by injuries.

“I don’t think that’s crazy at all,” Jones said last month of McCarthy receiving an extension. “That’s not crazy. Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach. Mike McCarthy has been there, done that. He’s got great ideas. So, the bottom line is in no place in my body language or anything else have you seen an indication about what we’re doing to be doing relative to this staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn’t.

“We’ve got a lot of football left.”