Mike McCarthy Exits Cowboys Following 7-10 Season

Mike McCarthy stepped down as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach after his contract expired following a disappointing season. The Cowboys finished with a 7-10 record, marking McCarthy’s first losing season since his Covid-impacted debut year in 2020. Despite having an exclusive window to negotiate a new deal, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated that parting ways was the best decision for both parties.

McCarthy, 61, spent five seasons in Dallas after replacing Jason Garrett in 2020. During his tenure, McCarthy won only one playoff game and the Cowboys suffered early home defeats in the wildcard rounds in both 2021 and 2023. Jones praised McCarthy for his impact on team culture and unity, calling him “a tremendous human being.” Although McCarthy’s time with the Cowboys ended on a sour note, he is unlikely to stay out of work for long.

Last week, the Chicago Bears requested permission from Dallas to interview Mike McCarthy but the Cowboys denied the request. The New Orleans Saints also reportedly showed interest after parting ways with head coach Dennis Allen mid-season. McCarthy became the fourth NFL head coach to leave his position after the regular season.

He joins Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders), Doug Pederson (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Jerod Mayo (New England Patriots), all of whom endured disappointing seasons. Despite the underwhelming results in Dallas, McCarthy’s career which includes a Super Bowl victory with the Green Bay Packers, positions him as a viable candidate for other NFL teams seeking a new head coach.