Minnesota Vikings & Cleveland Browns Joint Practice | Nick Cammett/GettyImages

As recently as one month ago, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Dallas Cowboys would move on from Mike McCarthy after the season.

However, the team has since won three of its last four games while navigating a crippling magnitude of injuries. The sudden surge has led to widespread praise of McCarthy.

Jerry Jones, of all people, has led that charge. Fans have learned to take what Jones says with a pinch of salt. More noteworthy, though, is that Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons have publicly advocated for McCarthy’s return. It’s apparent that McCarthy still has a firm grip on the locker room and players still believe in him as their head coach.

Starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, the McCarthy narrative may swing again if Dallas falls flat in their last three games.

Regardless, talk about whom could replace McCarthy if the team decides to move in a different at season’s end will not let up. Former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has been circled as an ideal fit and that buzz grew louder following a recent report.

Cowboys linked with Mike Vrabel as possible Mike McCarthy replacement

ESPN’s Dan Graziano (subscription required) linked the Cowboys with Vrabel, who is currently working as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns after he was fired by Tennessee last year.

“Mike Vrabel’s name is buzzy ahead of the coaching carousel. Some believe the former Titans coach would be a candidate in Dallas if the Cowboys move on from Mike McCarthy. (Jerry Jones continues to say nice things about McCarthy, but he has yet to extend his contract, which expires after this season.)”

ESPN insider Dan Graziano

Graziano’s report comes less than a week after fellow ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler mentioned the Cowboys and Vrabel as a “natural fit”. There seems to be an understanding within league circles that Dallas would target Vrabel if they choose to move on from McCarthy.

Graziano makes a salient point about McCarthy’s expiring contract.

Jones has raved about McCarthy at every turn recently, but he hasn’t put his money where his mouth is. That would seem to hint that Jones has not made a decision on the 61-year-old’s future, don’t you think?

If he had as much conviction in McCarthy as he claims, wouldn’t he save himself the trouble and present him with a new deal? While Jones is impressed with the team’s recent performance, it’s possible he’s waiting to see how they look in the final three games – all of which are against playoff-bound teams – the Buccaneers, Eagles and Commanders.

On paper, Vrabel is a natural fit. The Cowboys sought pedigree during their last hiring process when they settled on McCarthy. While rising coordinators like Ben Johnson, Liam Coen and Todd Monken will be hot names this hiring cycle, it’s more likely than not that Dallas doesn’t even consider them being they don’t have head coaching experience.

Vrabel took a middling Titans team to the playoffs three years in a row, culminating in an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2019. He won with average quarterback play and his teams were among the grittiest in football.

The former Coach of the Year wouldn’t be the most exciting hire, but he’s probably the most exciting on the Joneses list of candidates.