One word that could sum up Mike McCarthy during his tenure as Dallas Cowboys head coach is disappointing. While the Cowboys have consistently won games when Dak Prescott is healthy, McCarthy has been unable to help them overcome their demons in the postseason.
The bottom has fallen out this season, to the point where Dallas missing the playoffs is widely considered to be a possible catalyst for Jerry Jones axing McCarthy after five seasons with the team. Given how rotten this year has been for everyone involved, such a move might actually make a good deal of sense.
Unfortunately for fans who want to see new blood come in and shake things up, McCarthy is far from a lame-duck coach who is going into Week 18 against the Washington Commanders expecting a pink slip, If anything, he may receive a ringing voice of endorsement from the front office that will keep him in place as the Cowboys try to make it to the playoffs.
In a segment on Sunday NFL Countdown, Adam Schefter described McCarthy’s status with the team as “leaning towards safe.” McCarthy may get one more shot to build a winner in Dallas from Jones, who clearly seems to be a fan of his on a personal level.
Adam Schefter says Mike McCarthy “leaning towards safe” with Cowboys
McCarthy has gone 49-34 as Cowboys coach, winning 12 games three times and taking home two NFC East titles. Unfortunately, those regular season victories mattered not one iota in the postseason, where he posted a 1-3 record with Prescott in his prime as the quarterback.
Jones might be willing to cut McCarthy a bit of slack this season. The much-maligned defense has improved towards the end of the season, and the Cowboys did go 4-4 when the noodle-armed Cooper Rush is under center. Will that impress Jones enough to keep McCarthy?
The Cowboys’ job, should it become available, is not a bad one. You have a Top 10 quarterback and wide receiver locked up long-term and arguably the best defensive player in the game. The division is tough, but not impossible to compete in with the right system in place.
McCarthy isn’t the worst coach in the world, and the appeal of his coming back to a veteran team is there for some who believe in this construction. However, many fans are not going to be on board with him getting another shot.
