Cowboys' Stephen Jones discusses Mike McCarthy coaching in lame-duck year

Throughout 2024, much attention has been given to how Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy will continue to work despite not having a new contract, which Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones has decided not to extend.

During a recent chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones addressed why McCarthy remains in a lame-duck year.

"It’s where Jerry is on this," Stephen Jones explained. "He’s the one to ask. He’s one of Mike’s biggest fans. It’s one of those things where Jerry, his gut is, Let’s push in [our chips] and let’s go. We all feel it. Let’s go win this thing."

McCarthy guided the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl championship during his tenure that ran from 2006 through much of the 2018 season. While the Cowboys have gone 12-5 across three consecutive campaigns under McCarthy, his 1-3 postseason record during his Dallas tenure has made him an easy target for critics and, possibly, for Jerry Jones.

"He’s won Super Bowls," Stephen Jones responded when asked about his confidence in McCarthy. "He’s been to conference championships. Mike knows what it takes to win. He’s a damn good football coach."

As if McCarthy's unique situation wasn't difficult enough, he's also dealing with starting quarterback Dak Prescott in the final year of his deal as wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is in the middle of a contract holdout. Add in that the Cowboys are repeatedly linked in rumors with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who reportedly "intends to coach in 2025," it feels like Jerry Jones is at least considering pressing the button on a franchise reset that could get underway this coming winter.

"We’ve won as many games over the last three years as anybody," Stephen Jones added. "Unfortunately, it’s the elephant in the room, we haven’t had playoff success. I’m frustrated. The players are. The coaches are. Jerry is. We all want to do something about it. Of course, our fans are as well. What you don’t ever want to see is people just don’t care anymore. At least they are frustrated, or mad about it."

It seems a given that Jerry Jones will show McCarthy the door if the Cowboys don't reach a level of playoff success that includes a trip to the NFC Championship Game this January. How McCarthy's players handle that reality could ultimately determine the direction Jerry Jones takes the franchise following the upcoming campaign.