Despite a 34-6 loss to the Eagles dropping Dallas to 3-6 on the year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not interested in firing head coach Mike McCarthy before the end of the regular season, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
Jones added that he regretted firing Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start to the 2010 season, per Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams, and also referenced moving on from Chan Gailey in 2000 after just two years as head coach, both of which included playoff berths.
Jones’ comments indicate that McCarthy’s job is safe at least through the end of the regular season. He entered 2024 with a .627 winning percentage as Dallas’ head coach, the best in franchise history, but has dropped to fourth place with a .592 winning percentage to date. Additionally, he is 1-3 in the playoffs during his tenure.
Jones even seemed to give McCarthy some cover if the Cowboys struggle during Dak Prescott‘s absence, which could be anywhere from six weeks to the rest of the season depending on a final opinion from a New York specialist.
“Anybody that loses their top quarterback has some adjustments to make and they’re usually adjusting uphill,” said Jones on Sunday, per Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS.
One of those adjustments could be starting Trey Lance in Week 11, something McCarthy will consider this week, according to Hill. Lance played 15 snaps in Week 10 after Cooper Rush only managed 45 passing yards on 23 attempts. Lance completed four of his six attempts for 21 yards plus an interception to close out Dallas’ blowout loss.