Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is reportedly parting ways after contract negotiations stalled

Mike McCarthy’s contract with the Dallas Cowboys expired and his time with the team has come to an end.

McCarthy, whose contract expired after the 2024 season, will not return as Dallas’ coach next season. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the two sides were unable to agree on the length of the contract, and decided to divorce. The Cowboys declined the Chicago Bears’ request to interview McCarthy for their open head coaching position last week, when negotiations over a contract extension were presumably underway. If McCarthy is still interested in the job, he is now free to interview, assuming the Bears are still interested as well.

The Cowboys finished 7-10 with several blowout losses, including a 41-7 loss to the rival Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 when Saquon Barkley surpassed 2,000 yards on the season. McCarthy helped turn things around midway through the season, winning four of five games after falling to 3-7. But after two defeats to end the season, it was time for a change.

The Cowboys entered the season with high hopes, but fell out of the race before September was over. A season-ending injury to Dak Prescott wasn’t the reason Dallas’ season went sideways — the Cowboys’ offense struggled with Prescott this season — but aside from a late-season surge of three wins in four games, Dallas was largely a mess without its quarterback.

McCarthy helped the Cowboys win 12 games in each of the past three seasons, but couldn’t get the team to the NFC Championship Game. Dallas hasn’t reached that point in the playoffs since the 1995 season. Jones stayed the course with McCarthy through the playoff losses, even though there were many calls for Dallas to go in a different direction. Jones remained patient with McCarthy, but the 2024 season quickly went south.

The Cowboys job isn’t easy, with a few stars taking up most of the salary cap space, Prescott turning 32 next season and coming off a season-ending injury and the constant distractions that come with being Dallas’ coach. But there’s a recent track record of regular-season success, and it’s one of the highest-profile jobs in sports.

It will be interesting to see what type of candidate Jones focuses on in his search. Whoever accepts the job had better be ready for the pressure that comes with it.