Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones refrained from expressing a firm commitment to retaining head coach Mike McCarthy after the team’s triumphant NFC East-clinching victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Despite the Cowboys securing the number two seed in the NFC with a resounding win, Jones did not provide a definitive statement about McCarthy’s future.
The upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy’s former team, scheduled for next Sunday afternoon, might serve as a pivotal factor in determining whether McCarthy remains with the Cowboys or faces potential removal from his coaching position.
Dallas Cowboys owner sends message to Mike McCarthy
As reported by Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, reporters inquired about Mike McCarthy’s future with the Cowboys to owner Jerry Jones. Jones responded by stating that he would assess McCarthy’s future based on how “each game” unfolds in the playoffs. This suggests that Jones is keeping a close eye on the team’s performance in the postseason before making any decisions regarding the head coach’s tenure.
Jones’ statement aligns with another noteworthy report from the weekend. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN on Saturday, the Cowboys were expected to keep McCarthy as their coach if his team had a strong performance in the postseason.
There is a prevailing sentiment among individuals within the league and even some within the Cowboys organization that coach Mike McCarthy’s future will be influenced by the outcome of Dallas’ final game. If the Cowboys perform well in the postseason, McCarthy stands a strong chance of retaining his job. However, if they face challenges and conclude the season with a humiliating loss, similar to the occurrences in the past two years, there are suggestions that changes might be on the horizon for Dallas.
Will the Green Bay Packers knock McCarthy out of a job again?
A defeat to the Packers next Sunday would be a source of embarrassment for both McCarthy and the Cowboys. Despite the Packers’ slow start this season, they managed to secure a playoff spot, making the Cowboys, with their strong lineup, expected contenders for the Super Bowl.
However, Packers fans have experienced a similar narrative with McCarthy in the past. McCarthy held a record of 125-77-2 as the head coach of the Packers, including a 10-8 postseason record. While these are respectable numbers, the frustration stemmed from the way the Packers lost playoff games, particularly with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. This frustration ultimately led to the parting of ways after the 2018 season.
Despite McCarthy’s commendable regular-season record of 42-25 with the Cowboys, reflecting a winning percentage of .621, which is similar to his .618 winning percentage with the Packers, his postseason performance has been a cause for concern in Dallas. McCarthy holds a 1-2 playoff record with the Cowboys, including two losses to the San Francisco 49ers. This postseason record is likely to leave Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, dissatisfied with McCarthy’s coaching results in Dallas.
