Teams are already scouring the market for new head coaches and firing bad fits. One coach who hasn’t been locked into his organization is none other than the Dallas Cowboys Mike McCarthy. McCarthy helped the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 seasons in previous years. Yet the Cowboys finished with a 7-10 record, their first losing season since McCarthy’s first year as head coach back in 2020. Only one question remains: What’s next for the Dallas Cowboys and McCarthy?
The Dallas Cowboys and Mike McCarthy Have Three Possible Futures
The Future of the Cowboys with Head Coach Mike McCarthy
McCarthy could stay in Dallas. After all, he has faced lots of in-season success. Even though the 2024 season didn’t go as anticipated, most of that wasn’t on McCarthy. Injuries plagued the team from start to finish. Yet, even when injuries weren’t dragging the team down, there just appeared to be a lack of connection between the main stars of the organization.
If McCarthy comes back, the Cowboys could see another performance slump. In the eight games he started, Dak Prescott managed 12 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He wasn’t trending very well before the injury, and coming back after rehabbing, he could struggle again. Yet, it isn’t the regular season where the Cowboys have faced most of their difficulties – it’s the postseason. McCarthy’s record for the postseason with the Cowboys is 1-3, with no conference championship appearances. There’s nothing to match those 12-5 seasons with and there’s no guarantee that it’ll suddenly happen with another opportunity to do so.
If the Dallas Cowboys and McCarthy Part Ways
There’s a good chance the Cowboys do not bring back McCarthy. Lack of advanced playoff appearances would be the primary factor in letting him go, similar to how it played a big role in Prescott’s contract. However, at least Mike McCarthy has been to the playoffs before and won a Super Bowl. The tough part about finding a replacement for McCarthy is that the coaches on the market don’t have any tangible success. It’s a gamble to take in someone new. It’s also a gamble if McCarthy remains.
McCarthy also might not stay on the market long. Other teams like the Chicago Bears have already shown interest in taking the coach if the Cowboys no longer want him. And usually, if the head coach is wanted by another team, then he still has a spark that other teams admire. This leaves one more alternative for the Cowboys.
Adding a Different Play Designer for the Dallas Cowboys
A third option that most people haven’t considered is to release McCarthy from being the playcaller. The issue isn’t McCarthy’s ability to keep a locker room together. It isn’t a lack of motivation or drive. But instead, it’s a lack of creativity.
Teams know exactly what to expect from the Cowboys now. They go into games, plan around CeeDee Lamb, and know that’s all they’ve had to worry about. It wasn’t until recently that the Cowboys run game began to heat up. Having a successful run game only began because McCarthy realized he couldn’t have Prescott air the ball out 40 times a game.
The league is rapidly changing. Most of that change lies in the value of an excellent running back. A great running back allows the quarterback to rest, keeps defenses guessing, and gives offenses one more weapon. Offensively, the Cowboys just don’t have the depth. Jonathan Mingo isn’t likely to suddenly become the sensational WR2 the team was counting on. If the Cowboys want to win games and go far into the playoffs, they need a new way of thinking. Specifically, they need versatility inside of the playbook, and that’s something that Mike McCarthy just isn’t able to provide.
But it is something they can delegate to someone else while keeping McCarthy and increasing their Super Bowl odds in the future.
Main Image: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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