At 74, Super Bowl-Winning Head Coach Bruce Arians Is Eyeing an NFL Return; Cowboys Could Be a Perfect Fit

Arians signals interest in coaching

Arians told NFL insider Jordan Schultz that he is open to returning to coaching. “Now that I'm all healthy again, I got the itch again, so, we'll see,” Arians said. “Yeah, we'll see. Never say never.”

He said health problems prompted his departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his last NFL season, 2021, he was dealing with a torn Achilles, a back issue and a heart problem; Arians said those concerns are now behind him.

Why Dallas could consider Arians

The article expects Dallas to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season and argues the team should dismiss Brian Schottenheimer if that happens. Arians is presented as a possible replacement with prior head-coaching experience and a Super Bowl ring.

Arians won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in 2020 and is a two-time Coach of the Year. His offenses regularly ranked in the top 10 from 2015 through 2021, and the Buccaneers finished third, third and second in points during his three seasons as head coach.

Discipline and offensive direction

Arians did not call plays during his three years leading Tampa Bay, but he could bring in an offensive coordinator aligned with his approach. The article says Dallas could benefit from his offensive expertise because the Cowboys’ strength is their offense.

It also describes Arians as both supportive of players and demanding about accountability. That combination, the article argues, could address discipline problems within the Cowboys and offer a contrast with Schottenheimer’s approach.

Age remains a concern

Arians is 74, and the article identifies his age as the main drawback: he might leave coaching again after a few years. That could make him a limited-term choice for some teams. The article argues that Dallas’s win-now outlook could make the short horizon acceptable if Arians helps deliver a Super Bowl within a year or two.