DALLAS — Mike McCarthy’s tenure as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys has come to an end, as announced by owner Jerry Jones on Monday. Jones stated that both the organization and McCarthy reached a mutual decision to go their separate ways. The search for a new head coach will commence immediately.
Jones expressed deep respect for McCarthy, acknowledging the challenges he faced during his time with the team. The former coach’s contract expired on January 8 following a disappointing 7-10 season. Prior to this season, McCarthy had led the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 records, but the team has not advanced past the divisional round of the NFC playoffs since winning their last Super Bowl in 1996.
There is notable buzz around potential coaching candidates, particularly University of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who was part of the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl-winning team. Jones and Sanders reportedly have a strong relationship, and discussions regarding the coaching position have taken place, although formal interviews have not yet been scheduled. As the organization navigates this transition, their focus remains on identifying suitable candidates for the head coach position.
Although the Cowboys had an exclusive negotiating window with McCarthy through Tuesday, both sides opted to part ways before that deadline. During this period, interest from at least one NFL team regarding McCarthy’s availability emerged, indicating that his coaching experience remains valued in the league.
Next season marks the 30th anniversary since the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl victory. McCarthy, who previously coached the Green Bay Packers for 13 seasons, had a successful run there with a regular-season record of 125-77-2 and won a Super Bowl. He was brought to the Cowboys in 2020 with hope and expectation of replicating that success, following a decade of inconsistent playoff performance under former coach Jason Garrett.
In his time with Dallas, McCarthy compiled a 50-38 record, including a playoff record of 1-3. The past season was particularly challenging, as the team lost their franchise quarterback Dak Prescott to a hamstring injury after just nine games. Other vital players, including top receiver CeeDee Lamb, guard Zack Martin, cornerback Trevon Diggs, and defender DeMarcus Lawrence, also ended the season on injured reserve.
Garrett’s lengthy tenure marked him as the franchise’s second-longest coach, but it still did not measure up to Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry, who led the team for its first 29 years. The Cowboys find themselves stagnant in terms of postseason success since the time they were last crowned champions, after Landry was dismissed by Jones shortly after purchasing the team in 1989.
Among NFL coaches, McCarthy’s 174 career regular-season wins rank him among the top, yet he still lags significantly behind the all-time leader Don Shula, who amassed 328 victories. Among currently active coaches, only Andy Reid and Mike Tomlin have more career wins than McCarthy.
As Jones embarks on the search for his ninth head coach, he reflects on the history of his previous hires. He brought in Jimmy Johnson from the University of Miami, leading to back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the early ’90s, before a public and tumultuous breakup. Subsequent coaches like Barry Switzer and Bill Parcells have seen varying degrees of success, but none have replicated the former glory achieved during Johnson’s tenure.
As the Cowboys turn the page, they hope to find fresh leadership that can guide them back to the pinnacle of success in the NFL.
