Seemingly everyone had a strong opinion one way or another after news broke on Monday morning that the Dallas Cowboys were not bringing back head coach Mike McCarthy next season.
The news ended a debate that spanned several weeks about whether or not McCarthy had done enough to save his job after leading the Cowboys to 4-5 record after losing starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending injury back in Week 9.
The prevailing sentiment after the regular-season finale was that owner Jerry Jones was leaning toward bringing McCarthy back, which is why he denied the Chicago Bears’ request to interview him for their open head-coaching job last week.
But many sports media pundits speculated that Jones made McCarthy a lowball offer, which is why the situation dragged out a week longer than most expected. Because McCarthy’s exit happened after Dallas’ end-of-season media availability, no one knew how the Cowboys players were handling the news.
But according to Clarence Hill of All City DLLS, Prescott wasn’t exactly thrilled with the news.
“[I’m] bummed because we built some things,” Prescott said. “But I guess they couldn’t reach an agreement. SMH. … It’s the business. I look forward to the future plan.”
Ex-Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy laughs with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after a touchdown.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Because of Prescott’s injury, the Cowboys didn’t have the kind of season many hoped after the team signed its star QB to a new four-year contract that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history ($60 million per year).
The 7-10 finish was the second time in McCarthy’s five-year tenure Dallas didn’t have a winning record. McCarthy led the Cowboys to a 12-5 record in three straight years from 2021 to 2023, though they never made it past the divisional round of the playoffs.
McCarthy may not be unemployed for long. He already has an interview scheduled for Wednesday with the Bears and the New Orleans Saints are also reportedly interested in him as well.
