Locked On Cowboys Podcast

Episode Summary: "MISTAKE: Did the Dallas Cowboys BLOW IT by Ignoring Mike Vrabel & Ben Johnson?"

Release Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher), Landon McCool (@McCoolBCB)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into what the hosts call a critical mistake made by the Dallas Cowboys in the previous offseason—the decision to not even interview top coaching candidates Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson. The discussion expands into the Cowboys’ overall hiring philosophy, questions about organizational priorities, and ongoing developments around the 2026 defensive coordinator search, focusing specifically on Jonathan Gannon and a surprise emerging candidate, Durante Jones. The hosts mix insider insights with pointed critique, examining both mistakes and possible silver linings for the organization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Did the Cowboys Miss Out on Top Coaching Talent?

Timestamps: 00:44 – 07:47

• Opening Critique: Marcus suggests the real offseason mistake wasn't roster moves but ignoring top coaching minds: "Did the Cowboys make a mistake by not even interviewing Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson during the cycle last year?" (00:44, Marcus)
• Should the Net Be Cast Wider?
  Landon: "They should have at least brought these guys in and had conversations... Should you be casting a deeper and wider net in these interviews? Absolutely, yes." (02:39, Landon)
• Cowboys’ Organizational Attitude:
  Marcus questions Jerry Jones' historical philosophy: "I think Jerry Jones in the front office has always operated... that the coach doesn't matter all that much. And that's why they haven't attracted these big name coaches and really went out and spent a lot of money on the coaching staff." (03:39, Marcus)

Notable Quote:

"When you get to these big postseason games, coaching becomes more important than ever before."
– Marcus Mosher (03:39)

• Reasons for the Miss:
  Landon proposes it's less disregard for coaching and more about restrictive requirements: "It's been an issue of just holding the job in such high regard that you think that only experienced head coaches can take the job ... The best candidate may not meet those requirements." (04:38, Landon)
• "Whiz Kid" Hesitancy:
  Marcus points out a lack of interest in innovative, young coaches: "I don't think Jerry Jones has had an appetite to go out and hire... the Mike McDonalds, specifically the Liam Cohens, the Ben Johnsons." (06:07, Marcus)
• Contextualizing the Vrabel Situation:
  The hosts note Vrabel likely would have chosen the New England job regardless: "I'm not even sure if the Cowboys would have requested Mike Vrabel that he even would have interviewed here… I don't think he would have put up with the front office." (06:18, Marcus)

2. Cowboys’ Organizational Process and "Toughness"

Timestamps: 07:31 – 10:16

• Process Flaws:
  Landon admits, "Let me be clear. The process is bad. I'm saying that the result may not have been so bad, but the Cowboys have gotten away with that for years." (07:35, Landon)
• Toughness Lacking:
  Marcus on recent playoff games: "The one thing I think you can say about all four teams, that there's a general toughness about all of them... The Cowboys need to develop some kind of toughness where you can go out and play on the road in bad weather and not have it affect you." (07:47, Marcus)
• Offensive Line & Leadership:
  Landon: "It’s got to start with this young offensive line... Tyler Booker needs to take this offensive line up a step with his leadership." (08:38, Landon)

Notable Quote:

"...I just want some tough football players."
– Marcus Mosher, on scouting draft prospects (09:30)

• Player Example:
  Marcus mentions LSU’s Mansoor Delaine and Auburn’s Keonte Scott as draft targets who embody the toughness the team lacks.

3. Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Search: Jonathan Gannon

Timestamps: 13:26 – 19:59

• Gannon's Reputation:
  Landon questions why fans are upset: "I don't understand why they got riled up... Jonathan Gannon was part of a very great crop of defensive coordinators." (13:26, Landon)
• Cowboys Twitter Reaction:
  Landon points out: "There's just an outpouring of replies from folks about 'anybody but Gannon', 'cannot hire Gannon' and I think... Gannon is a really good defensive coordinator." (13:26, Landon)
• Scheme and Resume:
  Gannon’s adaptability is highlighted: "He does a lot of cover 6 and cover 8 stuff. He uses a lot of really up-to-date stuff." (14:22, Landon)
• Misplaced Criticism:
  Both hosts note that Gannon being tied to Matt Eberflus is overblown: "Because he worked under Eberflus in Indianapolis... I mean, that's part of it." (15:13, Marcus)
• Head Coach vs. Coordinator:
  Marcus, "Some guys are just better off as defensive coach coordinators rather than head coaches." (16:36)
• On-the-field Value:
  Landon: "If he is the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys next year... you’ve made a clear upgrade in how this team is going to cover the pass." (18:31, Landon)
• Draft and Personnel Implications:
  "If you’re going to run a lot of cover 6 and cover 8 like he does, you’re probably going to want to get your hands on a lot of veteran corners... then load up the talent in the draft on the front end." (19:30, Landon)

Notable Quote:

"If this was your hire last year instead of Eberflus, he would have been your number one choice with the bullet."
– Landon McCool (18:31)

4. A "Sneaky" Defensive Coordinator Candidate: Durante Jones

Timestamps: 21:28 – 27:54

• Emergence as a Favorite:
  Marcus introduces Jones as a dark horse: "Durante Jones had an awesome interview with the Cowboys... he is kind of a sneaky, under the radar candidate." (21:28, Marcus)
• Brian Flores System Connection:
  Landon notes, "They do so many blitzes in order to compensate for all that, you kind of have to run... interesting coverage stuff on the back end." (22:10, Landon)
• Jones’ Coaching Path:
  Marcus: "He's coached at basically every level. High school, college, the CFL... he's been around different, you know, ages of football forever. And I kind of like that, like, he’s going to be able to add some fun wrinkles to this defense." (26:24, Marcus)
• Why Jones Might Be the Longer-term Fit:
  Marcus remarks on NFL hiring trends making Jones more likely to stick: "It seems like the ones that are getting the most traction in the NFL right now are ... really young ones... Jones will be 48 this year... So Jones might be kind of pigeon-holed as a defensive mind for the rest of his career. That could be the sweet spot for Dallas." (24:18, Marcus)
• Stability vs. Upside:
  Landon: "If you get this guy [Jones], maybe you get an opportunity to grow a little bit... and actually let it kind of grow into its own thing underneath him, an opportunity... to become a better defensive coordinator instead of having to worry about him constantly being snapped up to be a head coach." (23:24, Landon)
• Final Preferences:
  Both hosts suggest Jones offers higher upside and culture-building potential:
  • Landon: "Just on face, I think Durante Jones, just because I think he brings something a little bit new, he's got some stability." (26:54, Landon)
  • Marcus: "After watching the playoff games, it's really hard to just go down for the, you know, try to get a double as a defensive coordinator job ... you need to swing for the fences ... that's Jones." (27:54, Marcus)

Notable Quotes

• Landon McCool:

  "You can't make these arbitrary rules when you're making these interviews and trying to find the best candidate for the job—the best candidate may not meet these necessary requirements." (04:38)

• Marcus Mosher:

  "The Cowboys need to develop some kind of toughness where you can go out and play on the road in bad weather and not have it affect you that much. They just haven't had that in years." (07:47)

• On Jonathan Gannon:

  "He showed what he could do by leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl when he was the defense coordinator ... I think he's done a really good job of using modern defenses." (13:26, Landon)

• On Durante Jones:

  "If you're getting a guy that could be here for three, four, five years, you can install a defense, you can draft guys for this defense year over year, they can develop in the same scheme and that's how maybe you get this defense back to being average." (24:18, Marcus)

Key Timestamps

• 00:44 — Main topic introduced: Cowboys' coaching search mistakes (Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson)
• 02:39 — Should Cowboys have cast a wider interview net?
• 03:39 — Organizational philosophy and reluctance to hire big-name or young 'whiz kid' coaches
• 07:31–10:16 — Discussion shifts to team toughness, with draft implications
• 13:26–19:59 — Jonathan Gannon as defensive coordinator: fan sentiment, strengths, and scheme fit
• 21:28–27:54 — Emerging candidate Durante Jones: résumé, system, long-term appeal
• 26:54 — Hosts state their personal preference for Jones’ upside and stability

Memorable Moments

• "Let me be clear. The process is bad... the Cowboys have gotten away with that for years." (07:35, Landon)
• "I just want some tough football players." (09:30, Marcus)
• "...this visceral reaction to Jonathan Gannon getting a second interview in Dallas...if the Cowboys hire him, I'm gonna feel like, okay, you just made a big upgrade." (17:56, Marcus)
• On Durante Jones:
  "He’s coached at basically every level. He was a high school coach, he was a college coach, he coached the CFL. He's been at multiple NFL teams." (26:24, Marcus)

Conclusion

Landon and Marcus deliver a critical yet hopeful appraisal of the Cowboys organization, focusing on the need for broader thinking in hiring coaches and instilling a much-needed edge and toughness to the team. They urge not to get caught up in stale habits or fan overreactions, emphasizing that both process and people matter—highlighting why innovative hires and thorough evaluation could break years of stagnation. As the defensive coordinator search intensifies, they see real promise in both Jonathan Gannon for his modern schemes and in Durante Jones for stability and fresh ideas, with a slight lean toward the latter's high-upside appeal.

For continued Cowboys insights, follow the hosts on Twitter (@Marcus_Mosher, @McCoolBCB) and consider joining the Locked On Cowboys Everydayer Club for premium, ad-free content.