The Dallas Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy are preparing to shape the future of their partnership. According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, team owner Jerry Jones and McCarthy are expected to begin discussions on a new contract this Friday, with sources confirming both sides are open to continuing their collaboration. McCarthy’s current contract is set to expire Tuesday, providing Dallas with a brief exclusive window to negotiate before the coach becomes a free agent.
These talks follow several days of internal discussions about the Cowboys’ 2024 season and long-term plans. The situation carries added urgency as nearly all of the team’s assistant coaches are also nearing the end of their contracts. Decisions made in the coming days could significantly influence the direction of the franchise.
The 2024 season was a challenging one for the Cowboys, ending with a 7-10 record and marking McCarthy’s second time missing the playoffs since joining Dallas in 2020. This outcome came after three straight 12-5 seasons from 2021 to 2023, raising questions about whether McCarthy could finally guide the team past its persistent playoff struggles. A midseason five-game losing streak, including heavy defeats at home to Detroit, Philadelphia, and Houston, had many speculating that McCarthy’s tenure might be nearing its end.
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Support from players boosts McCarthy’s chances
However, the Cowboys rallied late in the season, winning four of their final seven games despite significant obstacles. The team lost quarterback Dak Prescott for the season, yet McCarthy still earned praise from Jones for his leadership under tough circumstances. “Given all the obstacles,” Jones said, McCarthy and his staff did an admirable job. Several players, including Prescott and defensive star Micah Parsons, also voiced their support for McCarthy’s return.
The upcoming negotiations will determine whether McCarthy gets another opportunity to address the team’s postseason shortcomings. If talks break down and McCarthy enters the coaching free-agent market, he is expected to attract interest from other teams. Notably, the Chicago Bears have already requested permission to interview him for their head coaching vacancy-a request Dallas denied.
For now, all eyes are on Jones and McCarthy as they work to decide whether their partnership will continue. The outcome of these discussions will shape not just the Cowboys’ immediate future but potentially McCarthy’s coaching career as well.
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