In 2024, the Dallas Cowboys went 7-10 and missed the playoffs. The team went 12-5 for three consecutive seasons. It was Mike McCarthy’s fifth season as head coach. Despite the Cowboys losing in the playoffs, owner Jerry Jones was confident McCarthy would move forward.
At least that’s what sources around the league believe when the 2024 season ends. However, it was reported Monday morning that the Cowboys will not be bringing back Mike McCarthy in 2025. Jerry Jones and McCarthy’s agents tried to make a deal, but the two parties could not agree. The 61-year-old coach is already under the radar of the Saints and Bears.
Mike McCarthy is not being retained by the Dallas Cowboys.
BREAKING: Mike McCarthy is not expected to return to Dallas and is now set to become a free agent, sources say. @AdamSchefter.
He is expected to be a candidate in Chicago and New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/fUUve2ex0i
— ESPN (@espn) January 13, 2025
Since 1993, Mike McCarthy has held some capacity in the NFL. He began his career with the Chiefs and was responsible for their offensive quality control. McCarthy’s first big break came in 2000 when he was hired as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. He held that position for five seasons. In 2006, McCarthy was hired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy was Green Bay’s head coach for 13 years. He appeared in 204 games for the Packers, posting a record of 125-77-2.
The longtime NFL coach was fired by Green Bay after the 2018 season and was not hired in 2019. Ahead of the 2020 season, McCarthy assumed the head coaching position in Dallas. McCarthy has made the playoffs in three of his five seasons with the Cowboys. That included three winning seasons and three consecutive postseason appearances from 2021 to 2023. In five years in Dallas, McCarthy went 49-35 in the regular season. Despite having a winning record well over .500, the Cowboys and McCarthy were unable to reach a long-term deal. Now Jerry Jones plans to hire his ninth head coach since taking over the Cowboys.
