On Thursday, CBS Sports analyst Garrett Podell explained that it was his understanding that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had not yet made a final decision about the future of head coach Mike McCarthy.
The Cowboys have had a disappointing campaign and were eliminated from playoff contention after the Week 16 slate. At 7-8, Dallas will finish in third place in the NFC East and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020. As a result, McCarthy’s job security has been a hot topic for America’s Team.
What Is Next for Mike McCarthy?
Podell explained how Jones has not made a decision as of now about McCarthy and hinted that the Cowboys will not be shutting down key players unless they are injured.
“He is going to play as many veterans who tell the training staff that they’re going to be able to play ball. And, I still think Jerry Jones has not quite made up his mind what he’s going to do with Mike McCarthy at the end of the season,” Podell said.
Dallas already shut down receiver CeeDee Lamb for the final two weeks with a lingering shoulder injury. With quarterback Dak Prescott missing the second half of the season with a hamstring injury, some would suggest the Cowboys take their foot off the gas pedal.
However, backup Cooper Rush has found his footing after two blowout losses in relief of Prescott. Dallas has won four of five games since, including a Sunday Night Football thriller over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cowboys Remain Undecided on Keeping McCarthy
It is unclear whether McCarthy will return to the Cowboys come the beginning of next season. McCarthy is in the final year of a contract that he signed in early 2020. While this campaign has been nothing but a massive disappointment, McCarthy is a Super Bowl champion who has made the playoffs in three of his five seasons with Dallas.
Last season, the Cowboys won the NFC East at 12-5 and earned the conference’s second season. However, they were destroyed 48-32 in the Wild Card Round by the Green Bay Packers, prompting questions about their proximity to a championship.
As the Super Bowl drought continues, Jones has a critical decision waiting for him at the end of the season. The team playing hard in an otherwise lost season is a strong point in McCarthy’s favor, but Dallas remains well short of its historic success.