Questions about former Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas began doing rounds in October. That was when the Cowboys went 3-3 entering their bye week after a 47-9 home loss to the Detroit Lions. Little more than a month later, they fell to 3-7, as their franchise quarterback was ruled out for the season. Then with just three games remaining in the regular season, the Cowboys were eliminated from the postseason. Owner and GM Jerry Jones, before the season finale, declared, “Hay is in the barn,” succinctly indicating that a change was on the table.
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Whether McCarthy should have stayed can be up for debate, but something all might agree with is the way it was done — lousy, to say the least. In fact, McCarthy found himself in a similar situation to that of Jason Garrett in 2019, after the Cowboys were eliminated from the playoffs on the final day of the season. Sure, his contract ran out upon the conclusion of the season but it took the Cowboys seven days to announce his departure. For McCarthy, it was eight. However, there is a major difference between the two situations.
As the Cowboys kept Garrett waiting, he wasn’t restricted from another potential opportunity of landing a job in the NFL.
But earlier in January, when the Bears asked for permission from the Cowboys to interview McCarthy for their vacant head coaching position, the former denied it! The catch here is that by that time, McCarthy’s contract had expired. Couple that with Jerry Jones speaking highly of McCarthy and many thought it might be an indication that he would be back. But 6 days after rejecting the Bears’ request, Jones did nothing until McCarthy parted his way. But the fact is McCarthy remains a highly respected figure in the locker room. Hear this.
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ESPN’s Marcus Spears, who played for nearly a decade in Dallas, said, “You would be shocked at how much respect Mike McCarthy has in this league.
And how many people think he’s a really good head coach, and how he sets the temperature of a locker room. …I know this, living in Dallas, them dudes like Mike McCarthy a lot. There’s a high level of respect for him in that locker room.” Dak Prescott expressed the same many times, as have McCarthy’s assistants. Now, looks like that respect for McCarthy has been reflected in a report that just came out. Intriguingly, the same report might also have indicated that the team’s ownership is less popular among the players than its ex-coach.
Do you think Jerry Jones’ management style is holding the Cowboys back from reaching their full potential?
Absolutely, he’s too involved
No, he’s doing what’s best for the team
Maybe, but the players need to step up
It’s not just him, it’s a team issue
When did you watch your first NFL game?
Yes, experience is key for a Super Bowl win
No, Purdy is the future and should be developed
Maybe, but only if the deal includes more assets
I don’t care as long as they win
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Support him and let him decide his future
Offer him a new contract to stay
Focus on finding a strong replacement
It’s a personal matter, let him go
Do you think Mike Tomlin should prioritize keeping Justin Fields over bringing in Russell Wilson?
Yes, Fields has more potential
No, Wilson’s experience is invaluable
Stick with whoever wants to stay
Neither, look for a new option
With Eric Rowe’s departure, do you believe the Steelers are making the right moves to rebuild their roster?
Yes, it’s time for fresh talent
No, they should keep experienced players
Depends on who they bring in
It’s too early to tell
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
Yes, we are talking about the NFLPA Report Card! The annual behind-the-scenes peek at how teams treat their players. Dallas cracked the top 10 this year, earning high marks for its facilities, locker room, and even how it treats players’ families. But ownership? That’s where things got a little dicey.
NFLPA highlighted: “Owner Jerry Jones’s average rating for perceived willingness to invest in the facilities is 8.59 out of 10 from the Cowboys players, a ranking of 16 out of 32 owners in the league. The players feel that ownership slightly contributes to a positive team culture, a rank of 23 out of 32. The players feel that ownership is committed to building a competitive team, a rank of 25 of the 32 NFL owners.”
Players gave Jerry Jones a B (which, let’s be real, probably stings more than an F for a guy who only accepts perfection). The Cowboys ranked 23rd in team culture, 25th in ownership commitment to winning, and—get this—16th in Jones’ willingness to invest in the facilities. Imagine being worth billions and getting called out for not spending enough. But McCarthy? The players credited him for the team’s leadership and culture, and hence, why the Head Coach received a solid A. And yet, Jerry let him walk. Makes sense, right? Only in the Jerry’s World …
The letter grade came up to a C for the training staff (from a D+ last year), but the Cowboys still rank 30th when it comes to how the players view the training staff. Only the Cardinals and Browns ranked lower. Just 72% of respondents felt they got enough one-on-one training treatment, and when asked, the players said that the training staff “only slightly contributes” to their overall success. terrible, isn’t it?
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Meanwhile, the strength Coaches received a B+ (18th out of 32). 92% of Cowboys players say they get an individualized training plan from the strength coaching staff, but that ranks the team just 20th leaguewide. And the players responded that the strength coaches contribute only “moderately” to their overall success. No real change from last year, sadly, when they also earned a B+ and finished 17th. But all is not gloomy.
The Cowboys scored high marks in areas like treatment of families (A), locker room (A), and weight room (A-), but the cracks start showing when you dig deeper. Food and nutrition? Solid B+.
Team travel? B-. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ training room landed in the bottom five, with players requesting better treatment options and more physical therapists. Considering how banged up this team always seems by December, maybe that should be priority No. 1? But nah, why fix the actual problems when you can just shuffle the coaching staff and hope for different results?
The Big D might be expecting a little too much out of Dak Prescott
The Cowboys are at a crossroads. Again.
Dallas fans didn’t exactly throw a parade when Jerry Jones promoted Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Another familiar face. Another safe choice… And yet another year of wondering if this team can actually take the next step.
But as long as Dak Prescott is under center, the Cowboys will always have a shot. That’s not just the company line—it’s reality.
“With all the [Troy] Aikmans and the [Tony] Romos and the Daks, someone is falling into a Tier 2 quarterback or higher every time,” an NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “You are going to be in the mix whether you hire Jason Garrett, Mike McCarthy or really anyone.” Translation? The Cowboys’ success is tied to Prescott, not whoever is wearing the headset.
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But let’s be real. “In the mix” doesn’t cut it. Since 1995, this franchise hasn’t sniffed a Super Bowl. Heck, they haven’t even made it to an NFC Championship Game. The post-Barry Switzer era has been a carousel of head coaches—Gailey, Campo, Parcells, Phillips, Garrett, McCarthy, and now Schottenheimer. The result? 12 playoff appearances, four postseason wins, and a fanbase running out of patience. At some point, you have to ask: is the problem really just coaching, or is it deeper than that?
The Cowboys seem to think part of the solution is adding a young quarterback behind Prescott. With a $90 million cap hit looming, Stephen Jones admitted that finding a young signal-caller is a ‘preference’ in the upcoming draft. Right now, Will Grier is the only other QB under contract. Cooper Rush and Trey Lance? Both are free agents. Dallas has to decide if it’s rolling with Prescott long term or hedging its bets.
Meanwhile, the offense is shifting. Schottenheimer and his staff are dialing up a more physical approach—winning in the trenches, pounding the rock, setting up play-action. “Coach Schottenheimer’s talked about it, and it’s going to be a physical identity,” offensive line coach Conor Riley said. “We have to win up front on both sides of the football.” The idea? Take the pressure off Prescott, open up the passing game, and stop making him carry the load alone.
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Will it work? Maybe. Dak Prescott is still the guy. The Cowboys need him to be efficient, make smart decisions, and deliver in big moments. But this plan only works if the offensive line holds up and the run game actually becomes a legitimate threat. Otherwise, it’s just another offseason promise that won’t hold up past week 5.
Dallas is entering a pivotal year. Prescott’s contract, Schottenheimer’s new vision, and the ever-present expectation of winning it all—something has to give. Will this new approach finally break the cycle? Or will it be another season of being “in the mix” without ever finishing the job? The clock is ticking.
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