The Dallas Cowboys have a championship legacy and are one of the premier teams in the NFL. But this team failed to live up to expectations in recent years as fans clamor for another Super Bowl, to no avail. If that happens again in 2024, there are a few people who could be jettisoned from their already hot seat.
ESPN recently highlighted owner Jerry Jones as the one who should be on the hot seat. Based on the way he's managed the franchise over the years, it's understandable. But let's be real: Jerry Jones isn't going anywhere, any time soon.
So which members of the Cowboys organization are in danger of losing their positions?
Trey Lance, backup quarterback
It wasn't that long ago that Trey Lance was thought to be the next potential superstar quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately for him, Lance has struggled to make the transition from college to the pro game. After failing to make an impression with the 49ers, he was traded to Dallas for a fourth-round pick.
The early returns, both last summer and in 2024, haven't been promising. Lance routinely airmails his targets, and he struggles with basic footwork and timing. Even when all that is going well he struggles with location. The Cowboys need to figure out whether he's really going to be worth a roster spot, or if Lance is a lost cause.
Ezekiel Elliott, starting running back
The days of "feed Zeke" appear to be waning. Of course, Cowboys fans already know that. He was already discarded once, being released by Dallas in 2023. One year later after a season in New England and Elliot is back. He figures to be the lead back for an offense that appears to be struggling with identity in 2024.
The past two seasons, Elliott has averaged a measly 3.7 yards per carry. He has clearly lost the burst that he came into the league with, and as such Elliott is more of a goal-line and short-yardage specialist than he was in the past. Another sub-par campaign could seal his fate as a has-been.
Mike McCarthy, head coach
Many fans wondered if Mike McCarthy was going to be fired after last season's debacle of a conclusion. Leading a team that features one of the best defenses in football, and one of its best quarterbacks in Dak Prescott, McCarthy let things get completely out of control, at home, against the Green Bay Packers.
It was the second season in a row in which McCarthy's Cowboys choked badly in the postseason. The previous campaign saw Dallas get run out of its own building by the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
McCarthy needs to get his team ready for those big moments. So far he's failed miserably. Another embarrassing exit from the postseason in 2024 could be the last straw.
