Report: Cowboys to interview head coach who was recently fired

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Dallas Cowboys helmet sits on the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Dallas won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys have begun reaching out to candidates about their head coach vacancy, and they are reportedly expected to interview one coach who was surprisingly fired earlier this season.

Robert Saleh is on the Cowboys’ list of potential new head coaches, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Wednesday. Dallas has reached out to Saleh with what is their first known interview request since parting ways with Mike McCarthy.

Saleh was fired by the Jets after the team began the season 2-3. He went 20-36 in three-plus seasons. Many felt the firing was premature after New York was competitive in 2023 despite Aaron Rodgers suffering a torn Achilles on the first drive of the season.

The Jets did not see any improvement after firing Saleh. They finished 5-12 and allowed 23.8 points per game, which ranked in the bottom half of the NFL.

Saleh is still just 45 and is respected around the NFL, so it would not be a surprise if he landed another head coach job this offseason. He was one of the top defensive coordinators in the NFL for several seasons with the San Francisco 49ers prior to being hired by the Jets.

One AFC team has also been viewed as a legitimate suitor for Saleh.