Despite the Dallas Cowboys securing their second consecutive win this week, head coach Mike McCarthy’s future with the team remains uncertain. The Cowboys now sit at 5-7 heading into Week 14, far from the playoff contender expectations that owner Jerry Jones typically holds for his franchise.
Key injuries, including Dak Prescott’s season-ending hamstring surgery, have played a role in the team’s struggles. However, even when Prescott was healthy, the Cowboys have consistently underperformed, leaving many to question McCarthy’s ability to take this team to the next level.
McCarthy is already in a contract year, which adds an intriguing layer to the situation. While the Cowboys could opt to let him finish out the season, the prevailing sentiment is that they will look for an upgrade this offseason.
Speculation on McCarthy’s Future in Dallas
McCarthy’s tenure in Dallas has been a mixed bag. After a rocky 6-10 debut season, McCarthy led the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 campaigns. Yet, the lack of postseason success continues to overshadow his regular-season achievements. Since 2020, McCarthy’s Cowboys have only won one playoff game, and his overall playoff record stands at a disappointing 1-3.
Despite this, Jerry Jones has spoken positively about McCarthy, even in the face of the team’s struggles this season. However, ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes McCarthy’s days in Dallas are numbered.
Dan Graziano on McCarthy’s Job Security
Graziano pointed out that McCarthy will likely need to make a deep playoff run to save his job. “The Cowboys fired Jason Garrett in 2020 because he couldn’t get them over the hump of playoff success,” Graziano wrote. “McCarthy hasn’t done it, either. Unless something incredibly bizarre happens over the remainder of this season, the Cowboys will likely move on.”
At 12th place in the NFC, the Cowboys’ playoff chances look slim, making McCarthy’s future even more uncertain. Unless the team experiences an unexpected turnaround, McCarthy may need to start looking for a new job for the 2025 season.
