Minute-by-minute, story-by-story, we will report on what's going on here inside The Star and around the NFL in our Cowboys Coaching Carousel.

Literally the moment the Patriots made it official with Mike Vrabel, the Cowboys head coach position opens up with Mike McCarthy out.

Plus, the Cowboys were on-brand in their handling of Mike McCarthy, and thoughts about future contracts for Sam Darnold and Brock Purdy.

Mike Vrabel made a triumphant return to New England as head coach of the Patriots on Monday. A former linebacker and Super Bowl champion under Bill Belichick, Vrabel said he felt the move back to Foxborough, Mass., was right "in his soul." Vrabel previously coached the Tennessee Titans and spent last season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns.

Week 18 is pivotal in the NFL league year for various reasons. There are many moving parts. Draft order chaos consumes the cellar-dwelling fan bases. Teams are

UNC head coach Bill Belichick supported the New England Patriots appointment of his former linebacker Mike Vrabel following the firing of Jerod Mayo after one NFL season

The Jets are said to value experience with next coach, Giants could take time to make decision on Brian Daboll

Here are the current odds for every head coaching vacancy. See where Ben Johnson and Mike McCarthy are favored to land.

The mutual decision to move on leaves McCarthy available for the Bears. But also adds one more coaching vacancy that ramps up the competition for coaches in this cycle.

The Cowboys' split with coach Mike McCarthy will have wide-ranging effects felt beyond Dallas. Who were the biggest winners and losers of the move?

The Dallas Cowboys' job is both alluring and challenging thanks to several unique factors. But where does the position rank among the NFL's best?