Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has maintained publicly that he still has full confidence in head coach Jason Garrett’s ability to lead the team, but those positive feelings may not last long if the losses keep coming. Should the Cowboys decide to move on from Garrett, they apparently have at least one potential replacement in mind.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that both Jerry Jones and Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones have an “affinity” for Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley.
From @gmfb Weekend: The #Cowboys seriously weighed moving on from OC Scott Linehan during the bye week and have an affinity for #OU coach Lincoln Riley if they move on from Jason Garrett… who @MikeGarafolo says may take back play-calling. pic.twitter.com/8HRHaSKAHw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2018
Riley is quickly becoming a popular NFL head coaching candidate, as he has also been linked to the Cleveland Browns since Hue Jackson was fired. The connection there is obvious, as Riley coached quarterback Baker Mayfield when he won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma.
Riley has one of the best head coaching gigs in college football and has already tried to downplay NFL teams being interested in him, but he would have some serious thinking to do if he were offered a chance to coach Mayfield again and an opportunity to lead one of the most successful franchises in sports in Dallas.
While Jones has been unconditionally supportive of Garrett over the past couple of seasons, Las Vegas oddsmakers seem to think a big change is finally coming with the Cowboys.
