Throughout his college coaching career, which began at Jackson State, Sanders has repeatedly expressed no interest in coaching professionally.
“I don’t have any desire or ambition to coach in the NFL,” Sanders said in June 2023. (h/t Sports Illustrated)
“I have a problem with men getting their checks and not doing their jobs,” he added. “I would be too tough as a coach in the NFL because I still have those old-school attributes.”
Not only would Sanders potentially clash with NFL players, moving to the pros would also erase one of his best strengths as a head coach.
Sanders has proven to be one of college football’s best recruiters, getting 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter, the No. 1 overall recruit of the 2022 class, to commit to Jackson State, becoming the first top high-school recruit to join a historically Black college and university (HBCU).
He wouldn’t have that same edge in the pros.
And while Sanders told SI that he is a huge fan of owner Jerry Jones (“I love Jerry Jones. I tremendously love that whole family,” he said), the two massive egos’ ability to coexist would be fascinating.
Would Sanders, who played for the Cowboys from 1995-99, be okay with Jones sitting out free agency like he did last offseason? If the team struggles, who gets the most blame?
History is also working against Sanders. After all, college coaches have a spotty track record when coaching in the NFL.
Nick Saban, Urban Mayer and Matt Rhule are among the successful college coaches who have tried (and failed) to capture the same magic in the pros.
There is no guarantee hiring Sanders would work, but it would undoubtedly produce headlines. If he gets the job, we’ll know what’s most important to Jones.
