Mike McCarthy will get another chance to end a nearly three-decade stretch without a deep playoff run for the Dallas Cowboys, a decision that ends three days of intense speculation over the coach’s future.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Wednesday night that McCarthy will be back for a fifth season after a stunning 48-32 wild-card loss to Green Bay.
The Cowboys were the first No. 2 seed to lose to the last team to get in since the 14-team format was adopted in 2020. Dallas surged to the NFC East title in the final two weeks and had a chance to host at least two playoff games.
Instead, McCarthy’s team is the first not to reach a conference title game after three consecutive 12-win playoff seasons.
“There is great benefit to continuing the team’s progress under Mike’s leadership as our head coach,” Jones said in a statement that referenced the playoff loss numerous times. “Mike has the highest regular-season winning percentage of any head coach in Cowboys history, and we will dedicate ourselves, in partnership with him, to translating that into reaching our postseason goals.”
McCarthy was recruited to help Dallas advance past the divisional stage for the first time since the 1995 season, when the organization won its fifth Super Bowl.
The 60-year-old coach won a Super Bowl with Green Bay 13 years ago and led the Packers to the NFC Championship Game three other times in his 12-plus season tenure.
