The Dallas Cowboys’ head coaching search has been interesting to say the least.

It still remains unclear if Deion Sanders is using the Cowboys as leverage to get a monster extension from Colorado, but the Buffaloes are reportedly playing hardball with Prime Time.

Might that push Sanders to Dallas?

The two sides have mutual interest and some insiders believe Sanders would accept the job if Jerry Jones offered it to him.

However, it seems that Kellen Moore is the current frontrunner.

The former Cowboys offensive coordinator interviewed with Dallas on Friday.

Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh interviewed early Saturday so the search is moving along nicely.

While Sanders, Moore and Saleh are all intriguing names, there is one candidate whom Cowboys fans have universally circled as their dream head coach.

Unfortunately, ESPN’s Adam Schefter understands that’s all it is – a dream.

Adam Schefter all but rules out Lions OC Ben Johnson as Cowboys’ head coaching candidate

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is Cowboys fans’ dream Mike McCarthy replacement.

The problem is Johnson is arguably the most desirable candidate on the market and Dallas waited so long to make a decision on Mike McCarthy that they can’t interview Johnson until Detroit’s season is over.

When asked by Pat McAfee if Johnson would be in the mix for the Dallas job, Schefter immediately shot it down.

“I don’t expect Ben Johnson to be in play in Dallas,” said Schefter. “I think Jerry [Jones] has other ideas. I think Ben Johnson has other ideas. And don’t think that he’s a logical leading candidate there right now. He is getting a head coaching job. He is getting one. It’s just not going to be in Dallas.”

It has been reported elsewhere that the Cowboys may request to interview Johnson. However, Schefter’s intel makes it sound like neither party is seriously interested.

That is a real shame because Johnson is one of the game’s smartest offensive minds and play-callers.

The 38-year-old has so many tricks up his sleeve that he breaks out gadget plays in the middle of blowouts.

Most coordinators would save those for high-leverage moments in meaningful games, but Johnson is so confident in his ability that he has no problem using them.

The obvious drawback to Johnson is that he’s never been a head coach. He’s worked his way up the coaching ladder, but has not climbed higher than offensive coordinator.

Some question his ability to lead a locker room, but Lions players have raved about his attention-to-detail.

We know Jerry Jones prefers to be familiar with his coaching candidates or them to have previous head coaching experience. Johnson doesn’t check either box.

Another roadblock is that Johnson would likely want some influence on personnel decisions. While the Cowboys gave Mike McCarthy some leeway in that regard, Jerry Jones’ stranglehold on the franchise might be a non-starter for Johnson.

Like Schefter said, “Johnson has other ideas.” Maybe Troy Aikman was right about this job not being as coveted as the media is making it out to be.