FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
McCarthy’s contract with the Cowboys expired last Wednesday, but the team held an exclusive negotiating window with the coach until midnight Tuesday. However, the two sides have had no negotiations regarding a new deal, sources told Schefter on Monday.
The Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints are expected to want to talk to him about their vacancies, sources told Schefter. Last week, the Bears were denied a formal request for permission to speak with McCarthy by the Cowboys.
After going a disappointing 7-10 in 2024, Jerry Jones will look to hire the ninth head coach in his tenure as owner and general manager.
McCarthy was 49-35 in his five seasons as coach, but he won only one playoff game while suffering devastating home losses in the wild-card round against the San Francisco 49ers (2021) and Green Bay Packers (2023).
Jones asked McCarthy and his entire coaching staff to work on the final year of their contracts after posting three straight 12-5 marks and leading the team to the playoffs for three straight seasons for the first times since the 1990s.
The Cowboys started this season with a 3-2 record, but suffered five straight losses and saw key players including quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring), right guard Zack Martin (ankle), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee). and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) finished the year on injured reserve.
After winning 16 straight regular season games at AT&T Stadium from 2021 to 2023, the Cowboys finished 2-7 at home in 2024 and became the first team in NFL history to trail by at least 20 points in of six straight home games, including the 2023 playoff loss to the Packers.
Before injuries wreaked havoc on the season, Jones supported McCarthy and said he didn’t believe in-season coaching changes made a difference. The only change Jones made during the season came in 2010 when Jason Garrett replaced Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start.
At 3-7 this season, the Cowboys won four of their next five games with Cooper Rush at quarterback after Prescott underwent surgery to repair an avulsion of his right hamstring suffered on November 3. The Cowboys’ playoff chances officially ended in Week 16.
McCarthy was hired to replace Garrett in 2020 with a clear mandate: ensure postseason success. From 2006 to 2018 with the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy made the playoffs nine times with four appearances in the NFC Championship Game and a victory in Super Bowl XLV at AT&T Stadium during the 2010 season.
Twice, McCarthy eliminated the Cowboys in the divisional round of the playoffs (2014, 2016). But he couldn’t match Dallas’ playoff success.
The biggest disappointment, however, was a 48-32 loss to the Packers in the 2023 wild-card round. Green Bay had a 27-0 lead with less than two minutes left in the first half. and the Cowboys never threatened.
The Cowboys never really found their footing in 2024.
McCarthy entered this season in the final year of his contract, although he became the first Cowboys coach to make three consecutive playoff appearances since Jimmy Johnson (1991-93). Johnson did, however, win two Super Bowls.
Despite Jones’ all-in proclamation early in the offseason, the Cowboys saw key contributors in those three playoff seasons — left tackle Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard, center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong – left in free agency and did. little to replace them.
The team’s reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott did not bear fruit, although Rico Dowdle finished with over 1,000 rushing yards.
Lamb missed training camp before signing a four-year, $136 million contract that made him the second-highest paid receiver in the game. Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract extension hours before Cleveland’s season opener.
Three of the Cowboys’ top defenders — passer Micah Parsons (ankle), Lawrence and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) — also missed time with injuries, which had a huge impact on new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The Cowboys lost their first four home games of the season by a total of 94 points.
After finishing first in the NFL in points per game in 2023, McCarthy’s first season as a playcaller, they were 20th in 2024.
Although they improved defensively as the year went on, the Cowboys allowed 27.5 points per game, 31st in the NFL and 28th in yards.
Jones will now be looking for the ninth head coach of his tenure, dating back to 1989. Since Johnson, he has hired a formidable offensive coordinator (Chan Gailey, 1998-99), raised from within (Garrett, 2010-19 and Dave Campo 2000-02), hired a top defensive coordinator (Wade Phillips, 2007-10) and brought in Super Bowl winners (McCarthy and Bill Parcels, 2003-06).
Neither was the solution to ending the Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought.
Will Jones, who turned 82 in October, look for an NFL veteran, college head coach or promising coordinator on either side of the ball to finally get the Cowboys over the hump?
All options appear to be on the table.
