FRISCO, Texas – When the 2024 Dallas Cowboys season finished 7-10 and eliminated them from the playoffs, and it all coincided with the end of head coach Mike McCarthy’s five-year contract, It seemed so simple.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones credited McCarthy for his work holding the team together with duct tape during a struggling, injury-plagued season and three consecutive playoff appearances, the first for the Cowboys’ head. He continued to praise his 12-5 consecutive seasons. He coached with Barry Switzer from 1994 to 1996 and Jimmie Johnson from 1991 to 1993.
He was only briefly on Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry’s historical radar. He was part of an NFL record 20-game winning streak from 1966 to 1985, which included postseason winning streaks of eight seasons from 1966 to 1973 and nine seasons from 1975 to 1983. Once again, a different NFL era.
And McCarthy, who has gone 49-35 in the regular season and 1-3 in the playoffs over the past five seasons, said he “absolutely” did everything he was hired to do. He said he wanted to return. And it’s all about increasing the team’s chances of winning in the postseason, to the point of adding a second Super Bowl appearance on top of the Super Bowl appearance it already won during the 2010 season in Green Bay. Ta.
However, by noon Monday, the two sides parted ways and the negotiations were not extended, as exclusive contract negotiations between the Cowboys and McCarthy ended at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Jones released a statement at 2:34 p.m. Monday, saying that while it was previously clear that they were together, “it has become clear to both of us that it is better for us to go in different directions.” partially pointed out.
Now, contract negotiations appear to have made this mutually acceptable path too onerous.
Jerry probably wasn’t going to commit to the five years of guaranteed money that new head coaches have been signing over the past year, which McCarthy’s agent, Don Yee, was certainly after. Also, as I pointed out last week, when someone asked me what the negotiation impasse was all about, my answer was simple.
Remember, Denver’s new head coach, Sean Payton, signed a contract with an average annual salary of $18 million. Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers’ new head coach, has signed a contract with an average annual salary of $16 million. Hey, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is checking in for $11 million.
In these head coach salary rankings, McCarthy’s $4 million average tied for 15th place. Sure, he wanted a raise, knowing he had lost quarterback Dak Prescott that year during just two losing seasons. And as noted on Friday, the absence of a healthy, legitimate franchise quarterback is the latest losing season the Cowboys have endured since a 6-10 season in 1997, when Troy Aikman started all 16 games. Don’t forget that we have something in common.
Therefore, averages, length, and warranties became obstacles that overwhelmed both parties’ initial desires. Maybe the Joneses wanted to know if McCarthy would agree to return as interim head coach under a new offensive coordinator, but it probably wasn’t to Mike’s liking.
There is another development here. Until the Cowboys’ exclusive negotiating rights expired at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, each team had to ask McCarthy for permission from the Cowboys for an interview, which certainly means his agent has other commitments. That didn’t prevent them from doing their homework on the team’s potential interest. Hey, the Chicago Bears are casting a huge head coaching net, so why do you think they asked permission to talk to Mike about Opening Day?
His side wanted the Cowboys to know that McCarthy potentially had options. McCarthy also served as New Orleans’ offensive coordinator under general manager Mickey Loomis from 2000 to 2004, so the Saints could be interested.
Now, the Cowboys will begin the search for the franchise’s 10th head coach. And don’t believe for a second that this surprised Jerry Jones. I mean Mr. Negotiator. Don’t you think so? Just ask anyone who has negotiated a business deal with Jones. Certainly, the Cowboys will have a list of potential candidates in their pocket. They may also have conducted their own backdoor reconnaissance.
But remember, now the Cowboys not only have to hire a head coach, they also have to replace the players leading the offense. A young offensive coordinator currently with the Eagles.
And don’t simply think that the new head coach has to be the offensive coordinator as well. Maybe Jones just wants a “head coach” and not a coordinator who has never been a head coach before. But the candidate has a good idea of who he can hire to lead the offense and possibly the defense, as well as who knows who on special teams as the Cowboys’ assistant coaching contract also expires.
The Cowboys are now one of six teams searching for a head coach, joining the Bears, Saints, Jets, Raiders and Jaguars. At least the Cowboys have a proven franchise quarterback in Dak Prescott. Chicago hopes 2024 NFL Draft No. 1 pick Caleb Williams gets theirs. rest? Well, not that much, and probably the main reason they’re looking for their next chief.
As pointed out Friday, you can’t fake the quarterback position.
So, absent a restrictive salary cap, this Cowboys job would be highly desirable. And with all assistant coach contracts expiring, the new players can assemble their own staffs. Don’t be fooled. Staff are a key element. And you can’t pick and choose men. They must be available.
Then again, the offseason is never “off” in these parts. And in a completely different sense, it has nothing to do with the impending snap count…
