Cowboys will not bring back head coach Mike McCarthy
NBCJAN 14
NFL: Dallas Cowboys, Head Coach Mike McCarthy Part Ways
Above: Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Dec. 15, 2024. Image copyright: Jared C. Tilton/Staff/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The Cowboys have made McCarthy their scapegoat. After several years of successful regular seasons, they didn't provide him with a roster built to succeed in 2024. They didn't provide their stars with enough of a talented supporting cast and relied too much on in-house solutions rather than going out and importing the necessary talent to thrive.
Narrative B
The Cowboys may have had personnel issues, but ultimately, McCarthy failed to lead the team past the divisional round of the playoffs, and sooner or later, a franchise has to move on. McCarthy made plenty of wrong decisions, including his move to take over offensive play-calling duties from former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Narrative C
This is another in a long line of baffling decisions by Jones. The idea that the Cowboys and McCarthy couldn't agree on the contract length suggests that Jones wanted to keep McCarthy. But instead, he lets him leave at a time when many top head-coaching candidates have already been picked up. It doesn't appear Jones has a plan for returning the Cowboys to prominence.