Cowboys Head Coach Odds: Deion Sanders New Betting Favorite After McCarthy's Exit
January 15, 2025
The Dallas Cowboys head coaching opening is sure to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason after the team parted ways with Mike McCarthy earlier this week, and a favorite has already emerged for the position.
DraftKings Sportsbook announced that Colorado head coach and former Cowboys star Deion Sanders is a +100 betting favorite to be the next head coach of the Cowboys.
Sanders, who spent five years of his Hall of Fame playing career in Dallas, told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday that he was contacted by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. While he's intrigued by the position, he said he's still committed to Colorado.
"To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it's intriguing," Sanders said. "I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it's intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community."
In his second year with the Buffaloes, Sanders spearheaded a significant turnaround from their 4-8 finish to the 2023 season by leading them to a 9-4 record. Colorado played in a bowl game for the first time since 2020, losing to BYU in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders was also responsible for the development of two of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL draft: his son and quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way phenom Travis Hunter, who won the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
While Sanders appears to be a solid fit for Dallas thanks to his history with the franchise, it would still be a bit of a surprise if the team took such a big swing on someone with just five years of coaching experience at the college level.
If Sanders doesn't land with the Cowboys, DraftKings Sportsbook expects them to pursue an offensive-minded head coach. NFL offensive coordinators Kellen Moore, Kliff Kingsbury, Joe Brady and Ben Johnson have the next-best odds to land in Dallas, respectively. Though a longshot, UNC head coach Bill Belichick rounded out the top six with +650 odds to make the jump back to the NFL to accept the Cowboys' opening.
