The slumping Dallas Cowboys are considering their options for moving forward, and former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is at the top of their conversations.
After the Cowboys’ third straight loss on Thursday night, owner Jerry Jones was asked if it felt like the team was sliding backward.
“It’s leveled out here. It’s losing, losing, losing,” Jones said, per NFL.com. “I’m not trying to be funny here, but the point is that we’ve got to win a football game.”
The latest blow for the Cowboys (6-7) came at the hands of the Chicago Bears, 31-24. Dallas remains in first place in the woeful NFC East, but the team’s struggles have placed head coach Jason Garrett squarely on the hot seat.
Garrett has made himself at home on that seat over his 10-year tenure, yet always managed to hold on to his job. A new report from NFL Network’s Jane Slater suggests that run could be coming to an end.
“Jerry Jones says Jason Garrett will remain the coach but I can confirm a very real interest in Urban Meyer,” Slater wrote. “In fact, I’m told Stephen Jones spoke with him recently.”
Meyer announced he would retire from coaching in 2018 due to health reasons. Before hanging up his headset, the current Fox Sports college football analyst won two NCAA national championships with Florida and a third with Ohio State.
The 55-year-old expressed interest in the Cowboys’ job in October.
“Absolutely. Absolutely,” Meyer told Colin Cowherd. “That one? Yes.”
Ohio State fans have been left to speculate, as Florida fans did before them, what was up with all those health issues?
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer drops to his knees in pain during a game on the road in Indiana.
Urban Meyer during a timeout during Maryland game.
Meyer was diagnosed with a benign cyst on the membrane that covers the brain.
While the condition is not life-threatening, Meyer often suffered from headaches and appeared to be impacted by it during several games last season.
Before he left Ohio State, his doctors warned Meyer about the “long-term risks” associated with the condition.
Meyer had surgery in 2014 in an attempt to alleviate the pain.
He has not addressed his health issues publicly since leaving the Buckeyes.
Two sportsbooks, sportsbetting.ag and betonline.ag, list Meyer as the second-favorite (+400) to be the Cowboys head coach next season if Jones decides to part ways with Garrett once and for all.
Both books lead with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels at +300.
There are other candidates for the role. Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley “remains a strong candidate,” according to Slater, while Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott should be filed as a possibility.