Despite the Dallas Cowboys being eliminated from playoff contention, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones offered praise for head coach Mike McCarthy and discussed his future with the franchise in a radio interview on Tuesday. The Cowboys have won four of their last five games to improve to 7-8 on the season, even with several key players sidelined by injuries.
Jones Impressed with McCarthy’s Coaching Amid Adversity
When asked about McCarthy’s status moving forward, Jones stopped short of definitively endorsing bringing the coach back for the 2025 season. However, he expressed admiration for how McCarthy and his staff have handled a challenging year.
“We’re just talking about what is positive right now,” Jones said. “We started the conversation talking about how good a job I think with the circumstances that we’ve been dealing with, how good a job that the coaching staff is doing. It’s led by Mike McCarthy. And that’s what we’re doing.”
– Jerry Jones on 105.3 The Fan
Jones pointed to the Cowboys’ competitiveness down the stretch and the valuable experience young players are gaining as reasons for optimism about the team’s trajectory. “I’m very impressed with how this team and how it’s playing, and the level of tenacity and I’m impressed with the fact we’ve got a lot of young players getting a lot of experience out there,” he said. “The future looks bright there with those players.”
McCarthy’s Contract Situation Looms
McCarthy and the entire Cowboys coaching staff are in the final year of their contracts. When asked Monday if he was eager to gain clarity on his future, McCarthy said he believes in “time and place” and that now is not the appropriate juncture to discuss it.
“I am at a different point in my life. I’m more focused on them, and I know that the best way to help everybody is to take care of what’s in front of us.”
– Mike McCarthy on his contract status
McCarthy ranks 13th on the all-time regular season wins list for NFL head coaches with 173 victories. In his tenure with the Cowboys, he has compiled a 49-33 record but has yet to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs.
Key Takeaways on McCarthy’s Standing
- Jones pleased with coaching job: Despite missing playoffs, Jones commended McCarthy and staff for how they’ve handled adversity
- Focused on positives: Jones highlighted team’s competitiveness, development of young talent as bright spots
- Contract uncertainty remains: McCarthy and all Cowboys coaches in final year of deals, but he believes now isn’t time to address it
As the Cowboys play out the string on a disappointing 2024 season, Jerry Jones’ vote of confidence in Mike McCarthy suggests the head coach is likely to return next year to continue building on the foundation in place. But until pen is put to paper on a new contract, McCarthy’s long-term future in Dallas still carries some intrigue.
