Steeler Assistant Joins Cowboys’ Coaching List

In his search to replace Barry Switzer as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones is talking to Pittsburgh Steeler offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

The Steelers gave Jones permission to talk to Gailey in Indianapolis, where the NFL winds up its annual combine workouts Monday. If he is chosen, he would become the fourth coach in the Cowboys’ history.

Gailey had a two-hour meeting with Jones on Sunday, which he described as a “getting-to-know-you session.”

“It was a very informal talk and it was a great opportunity for me to get to know Jerry,” Gailey said. “I’ve had a long interest in becoming a head coach. Whether or not it was the Dallas Cowboys, that’s just one of the fortunate situations that happened at this point in time.”

Switzer resigned Jan. 9 at the end of a 6-10 season.

Jones already has had a total of seven interviews with three candidates, including former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, former San Francisco 49er coach George Seifert and Green Bay Packer offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis. Gailey is the fourth “mystery” candidate Jones has been talking about for weeks.

Gailey drew criticism in Pittsburgh for his play-calling in the AFC championship game, which the Steelers lost, 24-21, to Denver. First-year starting quarterback Kordell Stewart had three interceptions--one of them on a second-and-two play from the Broncos’ 35 on a drive that put Pittsburgh in position to take a 21-10 lead.

Rather than give the ball to Jerome Bettis, who was on a 100-yard pace, Stewart threw into double coverage in the end zone.

“There’s some things we did well and some things we didn’t, and I’d rather leave it at that,” Gailey said at the time. “Sometimes 10-year veterans make throws like that. It’s not what you want, but it happens from time to time.”

Jones had hoped to have a coach hired by now, but since has said it could be April or later before he makes a hire.