Mike McCarthy won’t return as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys next season. The Cowboys’ owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, confirmed the news in a statement issued on Monday.
McCarthy, who wrapped up his fifth season with the franchise, saw his contract expire last Wednesday. While the two sides negotiated an extension at one point, they later decided to “head in a different direction.”
“I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure,” Jones said in a statement. “… I thank Mike and wish him, his wife Jessica, and their family the best. They have been a wonderful part of our community here.”
Mike McCarthy was hired as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2020 NFL season, succeeding Jason Garrett. In his first four years, McCarthy oversaw a disappointing campaign that saw the team finish 6-10, albeit without starting quarterback Dak Prescott.
McCarthy followed that by leading the Cowboys to 12 wins in each of the following three seasons and claiming the NFC East title on two occasions. However, the Cowboys failed to deliver in the playoffs, reaching the Divisional Round once and being eliminated in the Wild Card stage twice.
In 2024, the Cowboys once again lost Prescott for a large chunk of the season and finished with a 7-10 record and out of the postseason.
McCarthy is expected to attract strong interest from teams with head coaching vacancies, having previously been requested for an interview by the Chicago Bears.
The Cowboys, on the other hand, are rumored to be interested in Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as McCarthy’s replacement.