Not long after denying the Chicago Bears permission to interview Mike McCarthy for their vacant head coaching position, the Dallas Cowboys appear poised to move on from their longtime coach.
On Monday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that a source informed him McCarthy is not expected to return as the Cowboys’ head coach and is now set to become a free agent.
According to Schefter’s sources, McCarthy and the Cowboys have not entered negotiations about a new deal. Dallas’ exclusive negotiating window with McCarthy comes to an end at midnight Tuesday — a week after his contract with the team expired. In addition to Chicago, the New Orleans Saints are expected to reach out to McCarthy for their head coach opening.
Sources have revealed that owner and general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke with McCarthy at least three times last week. At the forefront of the discussions were the outcome of the 2024 season and what McCarthy’s vision for Dallas’ future may be — including potential coaching staff changes, the team’s identity on offense and roster improvements.
McCarthy joined the Cowboys in 2020 after spending 13 years as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. With the Packers, McCarthy went 125-77-2 and won Super Bowl XLV. As Dallas’ lead man, McCarthy compiled a 49-35 record in the regular season and led the team to the postseason three times. Despite posting three 12-win seasons in a row, the Cowboys went 1-3 in the postseason with McCarthy at the helm.
This past season, the Cowboys went 7-10 and finished in third-place in the NFC East.
