Mike McCarthy will not return as Cowboys head coach

Add the Cowboys to the list of teams in the market for a new head coach.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media is reporting that Mike McCarthy will not be returning for a sixth season in Dallas. McCarthy’s contract expires on Tuesday, and he had talked to the team about a new deal, but one didn’t come together.

According to the report, the length of the contract was an obstacle to reaching an agreement, and it was something PFT flagged as a potential sticking point when the two parties came to the negotiating table.

McCarthy was 49-35 in his time with the Cowboys. He had three straight 12-win seasons from 2021-2023, but won just one playoff game during that span, and the Cowboys fell to 7-10 amid a string of injuries during the 2024 season.

The Cowboys had blocked McCarthy from interviewing with the Bears for their coaching vacancy, but McCarthy will now be free to meet with them or any other team interested in giving him his third chance to run the show in the NFL.