The Dallas Cowboys concluded their disappointing season with a 7-10 record. They missed the playoffs for the second time during the five-year Mike McCarthy era. Although a recurring issue for the Cowboys could be contributing to this season’s troubles, it unfortunately always falls on the head coaches. As a result, McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways just a week ago, and now Jerry Jones is searching for the team’s next head coach. Among the names being linked to the Cowboys, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders is at the forefront.
It is uncertain whether or not the Cowboys are confident in Sanders’ head coaching abilities, but Jerry Jones is seemingly willing to put together a Cowboys alumni reunion one way or another. Heck, even ex-tight end Jason Witten, who has zero coaching experience beyond the high school level, has been mentioned as a possible candidate to join the Cowboys staff in some sort. It does not stop there.
In an interview on the Zach Gelb show, Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram had a lot to say regarding the Cowboys coaching debacle.
Outside of the head coaching vacancy, some position coaching holes can soon be filled too. Harris mentioned on the show that rumors are swirling that former Cowboys running backs DeMarco Murray and Tashard Choice could be candidates for the teams’ running backs coach position. Both enjoyed successful careers, more so Murray, with the Cowboys years ago.
Choice was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft after two years starting at Georgia Tech. He was a member of the Cowboys from 2008 to 2011. During his time with the team, he primarily served as a backup behind Marion Barber III and Felix Jones. Despite being a backup, Choice accumulated over 1,400 all-purpose yards and scored 8 touchdowns across three seasons. He finished his career with a two-year tenure in Buffalo before retiring. As a Cowboy, Choice had a great relationship with the franchise, and in 2016, he was welcomed back as a coaching intern for the Cowboys.
After completing a one-year internship in Dallas, Choice began his career in the college ranks as a running backs coach. Since 2017, he has held positions at North Texas, his alma mater for two seasons, and is currently the running backs coach for the Texas Longhorns. Notably, during his time at Texas, Choice played a significant role in the success of players such as Bijan Robinson, the 2022 Doak Walker Award winner, as well as Roschon Johnson and Jonathan Brooks.
Murray was selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft (Choice’s last season in Dallas), after a superb college career at Oklahoma. He had a successful four-year tenure with the team, serving as the Cowboys’ leading rusher each year he was there. As a Cowboy, Murray was a two-time All-Pro and was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. That specific season saw the Cowboys finish with a 12-4 record, which was tied for the best record in the NFC. Their season ended in a controversial loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round.
Murray’s 1,845 rushing yards in 2014 remain the Cowboys’ record for most rushing yards in a single season.
After his time in Dallas, Murray signed a $42 million contract with the rival Philadelphia Eagles in 2015. Although he had an underwhelming performance during his only year with the Eagles, he turned back the clock the following year. Murray would have two Pro Bowl seasons with the Tennessee Titans to conclude his NFL career in 2018. Murray retired with a total of 9,339 all-purpose yards (7,174 rushing yards), and 55 total touchdowns.
Shortly after his NFL career ended, Murray transitioned into coaching as a running backs coach just like Choice. He began with the Arizona Sun Devils and then returned to his alma mater, where he has been coaching since 2020. During his time at Oklahoma, he has coached players such as Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots, Eric Gray, and Jovantae Barnes. Murray’s position group has ranked in the top seven in conference rushing efficiency for four consecutive years.
Both candidates are developing impressive resumes and have the tools necessary to succeed in coaching at the next level. They understand what it means to be a Cowboy, and can use that experience to their advantage with their understanding of the Cowboys’ atmosphere. 2024 was a year that everyone would prefer to forget, and now Jones and his team must return to the drawing board to construct a better unit this off-season.
If Jones is serious about bringing in former players to coach, snagging one of these two is very important. Perhaps just as important as Moore and Sanders being considered for the head coaching job. Dallas should be aiming to strengthen their running game going into 2025, and hiring the right guy for this position group would be a crucial first step.
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