Personnel guru Will McClay turns down Texans’ request, staying with Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys got good news on Wednesday.
Will McClay, their senior director of college and pro personnel, turned down a request by the Houston Texans to interview him for their general manager opening.
McClay confirmed he declined and will stay with the Cowboys.
McClay has been working in the Cowboys’ personnel department for 16 years, and was promoted to his current position in 2015. He's been influential in drafting players such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Zack Martin, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott.
“Will has done a great job for us here. We think the world of him,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan last week.
McClay remaining with the organization is among the positives in an off-season that has seen several assistants depart.
The Cowboys will have substantial turnover on their coaching staff with wide receivers coach Derek Dooley departing for the University of Missouri; special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia heading to Oakland; tight ends coach Steve Loney retiring; and secondary coach Joe Baker and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson being informed their contracts would not be renewed.
Brown’s status
Running backs coach Gary Brown interviewed with the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday, raising the possibility that the team could lose another coach, according to sources.
Brown, who also has an expiring contract, was someone the Cowboys wanted to bring back after his success with the team’s running backs through the years, but especially in 2017 when star running back Ezekiel Elliott missed six games due to an NFL suspension.
Brown oversaw the development of young running back Rod Smith and re-emergence of veteran Alfred Morris as the Cowboys still finished with the league’s third-best running game, averaging 135.6 yards per game.
Brown has been with the Cowboys since 2013 has had running backs win two NFL rushing titles, DeMarco Murray with 1,845 yards in 2014 and Elliott with 1,631 yards in 2017.
He also coaxed a 1,000-yard season out of Darren McFadden in just 10 starts in 2015.
The Cowboys have made overtures regarding a new deal for Brown, but nothing formal has been done, setting the stage for coach Jon Gruden trying to entice him to Oakland.
Staying in Dallas with a young Elliott would seem more appealing than a similar position with the Raiders and the prospects of dealing with an aging Marshawn Lynch.
But this is also about career advancement and it would certainly be a huge setback for the Cowboys if they lose Brown.
Brown, a former eight-year NFL veteran, coached with the Cleveland Browns for three years from 2009-2012 before coming to Dallas.
Briefly
▪ The Cowboys signed safety Marqueston Huff to the reserve/future list.
This story was originally published January 10, 2018 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Personnel guru Will McClay turns down Texans’ request, staying with Cowboys."