Mike McCarthy had an interesting reaction following the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, suggesting he already knows his fate as their head coach.

The Cowboys fell 23-19 to the Commanders at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with Terry McLaurin catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota. Owner Jerry Jones now must decide the fate of Mike McCarthy, whose five-year contract has expired.

After the game, Pat Doney of NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth shared a video of McCarthy embracing members of his staff. One can interpret this as a last goodbye and a sign that McCarthy expects to be let go by Jones:

Mike McCarthy went 49-35-0 over his five-year contract as the Dallas head coach. Though the team recorded three straight 12-win seasons from 2021 to 2023, they only won a single playoff game under his leadership.

Cowboys Should Move On From Mike McCarthy

Even before Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury that required season-ending surgery, the Cowboys never once resembled a contender in 2024. McCarthy only squeezed one playoff win out of a Dallas group loaded with stars on both sides of the ball, and it’s hard to justify giving him a sixth season at the helm.