The Dallas Cowboys officially decided to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract with the organization was up. After weighing McCarthy’s future, owner Jerry Jones ultimately opted not to renew his deal.
McCarthy went 49-35 in five seasons with the Cowboys. Dallas went 12-5 in McCarthy’s second, third, and fourth seasons but earned no more than one playoff win in those three appearances. This year, the team won just seven games, failing to live up to preseason expectations.
Let’s why McCarthy was let go and revisit the pros and cons of his tenure in Dallas.
What Went Wrong for McCarthy?
Penalty Prone
It’s hard enough to get opposing offenses off the field in today’s game and even harder when you give away yardage. This season, only three teams committed more penalties than the Cowboys.
If this was a one-year issue, it could be overlooked, but that’s not the case. Dallas was whistled for the eight fewest penalties per game in the three seasons prior to McCarthy’s arrival, but during his five seasons, they averaged a league-high 6.8 infractions per game.
Bending and Breaking
Twice during the McCarthy era, Dallas posted a bottom-10 Defense+ grade from our custom metric, and the inability to force teams to settle was the culprit this season (ranking 32nd in red zone defensive efficiency).
If you look over the past two seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are both top-four red zone defenses and both rank among the top-four in win percentage.
This league rewards offense in a major way, thus putting an extreme level of importance on a team’s ability to hold their opponent to field goal attempts, something that was a clear weakness during McCarthy’s final season at the helm in Dallas.
Results/Regression
This is a results-driven business, especially when playing for a marquee franchise. The Cowboys finished with a losing record just once in nine seasons prior to bringing in McCarthy (who had eight double-digit win seasons with the Packers), but they have had two such seasons in five years since making the move.
The three 12-win seasons in the middle of those disappointing seasons are what this franchise expects, making the valleys more notable than the peaks.
MORE: Top 6 Candidates to Replace Mike McCarthy As Dallas’ Next Head Coach
McCarthy initially struggled with the hand he was dealt on both sides of the ball, but he corrected course in a major way for a three-year stretch before regressing in a major way this season.
There were obviously some major injuries to take into account, but these grades are reflective of the entire season, and there is no way around the regression that took place.
Defense+:
- 2020: D (ranking: 24th)
- 2021: B- (ranking: 4th)
- 2022: B+ (ranking: 1st)
- 2023: B (ranking: 5th)
- 2024: D+ (ranking: 25th)
Offense+:
- 2020: C (ranking: 23rd)
- 2021: B(ranking: 8th)
- 2022: B- (ranking: 7th)
- 2023: B (ranking: 4th)
- 2024: D+ (ranking: 23rd)
What Went Right for McCarthy?
White Knuckle Wins
The NFL is a game of inches, and during the McCarthy era, the Cowboys were capable of playing those tight spots. Since 2020, Dallas ranks fifth in winning percentage in one-score games (record: 22-16). Those regular season numbers didn’t carry over to the postseason (0-2 in one-score games).
Still, it fueled their ability to qualify for three postseasons under McCarthy, and if you look at the teams that are in the market for a head coach, they are a few coin-flip wins away from being much more competitive.
Here are some examples of underachieving 2024 teams that could have had a very different story this season if they performed better in these one-score contests:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-9
- Chicago Bears: 2-7
- New York Giants: 1-7
Money Time
With the margins so thin, winning the final 15 minutes can often shift the fortunes of a team in any given season. During McCarthy’s tenure in Dallas, the Cowboys posted the second-best fourth-quarter point differential (+153, trailing only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Buccaneers).
The teams that end the game strong are often those who have great attention to detail and excel at adjusting as the game goes on.
Those are traits any team would love to have and something that McCarthy’s teams have done consistently (the Packers also ranked eighth during his time in town).
Jerry Jones Opens Up About Coaching Change
Jones, the Cowboys owner, president, and general manager, released the following statement several hours after deciding to move on from McCarthy.
“Throughout Mike McCarthy’s tenure here, including the last several weeks, I have been very complimentary of the job he has done,” Jones said. “That has applied to our record over that time period, our team unity and culture, Mike’s qualifications and track record of success, and on a personal level as a tremendous human being. I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure.
“Over the past week, Mike and I had the opportunity to conduct a joint review of all aspects of the past season, our players and staff, and also spent considerable time discussing the road forward for the team. These discussions were thorough and received an appropriate amount of time and depth to cover.
“Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction,” Jones added. “I thank Mike and wish him, his wife Jessica, and their family the best. They have been a wonderful part of our community here. We will commence a search process immediately to hire the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”