Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy speaks openly about 'lame-duck' year

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is in the middle of a "lame-duck year" while in the final season of a contract that clearly isn't being extended.

McCarthy spoke openly about the reality of his situation on Wednesday.

"This is a challenge," McCarthy admitted, as shared by David Moore of The Dallas Morning News.

McCarthy isn't alone among big-name Cowboys employees. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott is in the final year of his deal, and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb reportedly won't be seen at training camp practices as long as he remains in the last season of his contract.

Professional athletes sometimes "bet on themselves" and play in walk years as they attempt to earn as much money as possible via new agreements. McCarthy understands he could bolster his value by guiding the Cowboys to at least a couple of playoff victories.

"This goes both ways," McCarthy explained. "You pour energy into yourself and bet on yourself, the odds tilt in your favor."

It's widely assumed Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones doesn't love the fact that Dallas has gone 1-3 in the playoffs under McCarthy since 2020. Meanwhile, Prescott holds a 2-5 career postseason record.

"They all have families," McCarthy said about fellow staff members who are also in the final year of their contracts. "Based off the norm of how this league normally works, this is a different experience for many of them. I’ve been open to talk about it. That’s part of your responsibility as a head coach is to help work your guys through it."

The Cowboys have repeatedly been linked with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Belichick reportedly "intends to coach in 2025" and could be waiting for the Dallas job to open up as soon as this coming January.

"I think for me personally, where I am in my career, you learn to assess situations and make sure you put your energy in right places," McCarthy added.

In short, it's hardly business as usual for a Cowboys team expected to do more than just participate in a wild-card playoff game this time around.