Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is under contract through 2024, and it stands to reason that the team would not want him to go into the 2024 campaign as a lame duck. To that end, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says McCarthy is in line for an extension in the offseason.
When asked about the possibility of such an extension at last week’s league meetings, owner Jerry Jones said, “[t]hat’ll have a course that seeks its own time frame. I don’t do anything of that sort until the season is over.”
That hardly sounds like a guarantee that a new deal will be consummated in the coming months, but it is nonetheless difficult to imagine any other outcome. McCarthy bet on himself to a degree by parting ways with former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore this past offseason and taking over play-calling responsibilities, and that decision could not have gone much better for him. Under McCarthy’s watch, quarterback Dak Prescott is enjoying the finest season of his career and is firmly in the MVP discussion — thereby setting himself up for a lucrative extension of his own — and the Cowboys presently rank first in scoring offense, fourth in total offense, and sixth in offensive DVOA.
As Rapoport observes, McCarthy’s job security is always a talking point in Dallas, and merely qualifying for the playoffs has not compelled Jones to retain a head coach in the past. Before last season’s playoffs got underway, however, Jones unequivocally stated that the outcome of the postseason contests would not influence his decision with respect to McCarthy, and while the Cowboys were ousted by the 49ers for the second consecutive year, there were no serious rumblings that McCarthy’s job was in jeopardy.
Last month, Peter King of NBC Sports suggested that Jones — who was long rumored to covet Sean Payton for Dallas’ HC post — might make a run at current Patriots head coach Bill Belichick if Belichick should, as expected, become available in the offseason. King said that in order for Belichick or any other candidate to become a serious consideration for Jones, the Cowboys would have to lose the NFC East, have a questionable showing or two down the stretch of the regular season, and go winless in the playoffs.
Since King’s piece was published, the Cowboys have rattled off four straight victories to bring their current win streak to five and their record to 10-3. That stretch includes a 33-13 thumping of the division-rival Eagles last week, and while Philadelphia (also 10-3) has the easier schedule over the last four games of the season, Dallas currently has momentum on its side.
Over his first three-plus seasons with the Cowboys, McCarthy has compiled a 40-23 regular season record and a 1-2 mark in the playoffs. Of course, he spent the better part of 13 seasons as the Packers’ head coach, capturing a Lombardi Trophy during his tenure in Green Bay.
Kellen Moore is overrated. Dallas is better off w/o him calling plays and the Chargers are below .500 team w/ an average offense QB’ed by Herbert (before injury). But of course, some team will want to interview him for a HC gig.
IMO Dallas would have been better off with Sean Payton. How about McCarthy win a SB before you give him an extension.
My comment has nothing to do w/ McCarthy, even though he does have a ring as a HC, rather Kellen is overrated.
Wasn’t he supposed to get fired not that long ago? Part of one season sure does change a lot.
Bil Belichick holding on line one….
I don’t think so. Bill knows B Parcells and Jerry clashed as did Jimmy J and Jerry. Jimmy and BB are close friends. I think BB would look at other jobs first.
What it sounds like is an owner that understands distractions. Theres nothing either way that benefits the team or the coach digging into anyones contract at this point of the season? Luckily smart business men know this even if sports writers don’t.
If they are 1 and done in the playoffs he gone.
If they lose to 9ers in 2nd round he gone.
Jerry kept Jason Garrett around for a decade even though he only had 2 playoff wins during that span. McCarthy is already half way to equaling Garrett’s playoff wins so I doubt he is in any jeopardy of being fired.
Update to this story after game 1 in the playoffs.
As a Niners fan PLEASE sign McCarthy and Dak long term. It’s fun to watch
Not after Sunday he’s not
After that beatdown they took McCarthy and Dak should kick rocks. Dallas has been irrelevant for too long. I say this as a cowboys fan unfortunately nothing will change until the Jones sell the team which will never happen