UPDATE (1/6): Well, that didn't take long at all! The Dallas Cowboys have paired with Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, as we found out on Monday.

It's a move we listed as a possibility here, and with good reason. You can check out my thoughts on the former Green Bay Packers coach below — both after and before the hire — but first, here's how I saw things in Dallas before the Cowboys' made their quick decision:

It’s now official — Jason Garrett will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, after nine seasons and two playoff wins. And for a snapshot of the inconsistency that led to his departure, check out how he alternated "playoff trip" and "home for January" from 2014 through 2019:

2014: 12-4, one playoff win

2015: 4-12

2016: 13-3, playoff loss

2017: 9-7

2018: 10-6, one playoff win

2019: 8-8

Not great, folks! So now, Jerry Jones must look for a new coach, and here are two things you need to remember about his process: He’s a 77-year old billionaire who also is chiefly in charge of personnel decisions. The narrative is that Jerry Jones wants someone aligned with his approach to things. As much as Cowboys fans dismiss that, facts and history say otherwise.

Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer won a combined three titles in the '80s and '90s, but also got the lion’s share of the spotlight (some might say credit, too). Four of the five Dallas coaches since have lower-profile hires, guys who were clearly okay with Jerry doing radio spots — how many other owners do that? — and holding court with the media after almost every game.

Perhaps the circle around Jones will tell him he needs to step out of the media spotlight and let the coach and players do their thing. But good luck with that.

Before I get to the list of names, one name you will not see below is Urban Meyer. Yes, I work in the same building with him, no, we have not spoken. He’s one of the greatest coaches in college football history, as only six coaches have more titles than him (3). If he wanted this job, I'm guessing it could have been his yesterday.

But that's just a guess. Instead, I believe Jones will be able to land one of these four coaches...