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[UPDATE:] Below it was reported that the Cowboys had interest in interviewing Marvin Lewis for a head coach position that technically still belongs to Jason Garrett. That information was wrong because it turns out the Cowboys have already interviewed Marvin Lewis.
Per sources, The Dallas Cowboys have already interviewed Marvin Lewis for the job. He is headed out today. So the process has begun with the focus for now on former head coaches, coaches with NFL experience https://t.co/2DHUGtftls
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) January 4, 2020
At least we now know the Cowboys are working towards getting a new head coach.
Things with the Dallas Cowboys picked up a bit of speed on Saturday morning when NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is headed to Dallas to “speak” with the team.
Of course, the Cowboys haven’t technically moved on from Jason Garrett yet so we are still in a state of limbo, but the beat of this dance is progressing in tempo. It seemingly remains a matter of when the Cowboys will move on from Garrett and not one of if.
McCarthy obviously has history in the NFL as he coached the Green Bay Packers for over a decade. According to Rapoport, it is older coaches that the Cowboys might be focused on and apparently there is another name drawing interest within the organization... Marvin Lewis.
From @GMFB Weekend: The #Cowboys are slated to meet with ex-#Packers coach Mike McCarthy in the coming days, sources say. While they have not officially moved on from coach Jason Garrett, they are beginning their search. Ex-#Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has also drawn interest. pic.twitter.com/Q9oxlh1dEC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2020
Lewis was a special adviser at Arizona State in the 2019 season, but unlike Super Bowl winner McCarthy, Lewis has not been a hot name on the coaching carousel. It would be surprising if he ultimately became the Cowboys coach.
Lewis coached for 16 years with the Cincinnati Bengals and didn’t win a single playoff game throughout that entire time. Not a single one.
Marvin Lewis with Bengals
- 2003: 8-8
- 2004: 8-8
- 2005: 11-5... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2006: 8-8
- 2007: 7-9
- 2008: 4-11-1
- 2009: 10-6... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2010: 4-12
- 2011: 9-7... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2012: 10-6... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2013: 11-5... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2014: 10-5-1... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2015: 12-4... lost in Wildcard Round
- 2016: 6-9-1
- 2017: 7-9
- 2018: 6-10
If you’re looking for positives here, it’s obviously worth something, however much, that Lewis took the Bengals to the playoffs five straight seasons (the first five in which he had Andy Dalton and AJ Green on his offense). Obviously the AFC North has long belonged to the Steelers and Ravens so breaking through hasn’t been easy, but that will hardly soothe the anxiety of Cowboys fans.
It’s possible that the Cowboys merely want to poke Lewis’ brain on this, that, or maybe even Mike Zimmer. The former Cowboys defensive coordinator (now Minnesota Vikings head coach) has been linked to the Dallas job and also served as the defensive coordinator under Lewis in Cincinnati. You can’t rule anything out.