As the Dallas Cowboys face the prospect of missing the playoffs this season, discussions around a potential coaching change are gaining traction. ESPN columnist Dan Graziano notes that it would be unexpected for the Cowboys to retain head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2024 season. McCarthy is currently in his fifth season as the head coach of the Cowboys, and after having entered 2024 with three consecutive playoff appearances, the team's chances of achieving a fourth straight postseason berth appear slim due to their current 3-6 record.
McCarthy, who enjoyed a successful 13-year tenure as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, where he posted a record of 125-77-2 and secured a Super Bowl title, was appointed by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in 2020 to succeed Jason Garrett. Though McCarthy's first season with the Cowboys was challenging, resulting in a 6-10 record, the subsequent three years saw considerable improvement, as Dallas recorded 12-5 in each season and captured two NFC East titles. Under McCarthy's guidance, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb developed into one of the league's elite pass-catchers, while quarterback Dak Prescott enjoyed the finest statistical season of his career in 2023, finishing as the runner-up for the NFL MVP award.
Despite the team's regular-season successes, the playoff picture has been far less favorable, with the Cowboys posting a 1-3 record in postseason games during McCarthy's tenure. A particularly notable defeat occurred last season when Dallas, holding the No. 2 seed, suffered a disheartening 48-32 loss at home to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card Round. Following that defeat, speculation surrounded the future of McCarthy, yet Jones made the somewhat surprising decision to retain him as a lame-duck coach for the upcoming 2024 season. The Cowboys entered the new season with limited personnel changes, choosing primarily to build on their previous roster. Unfortunately, the team managed only a 3-3 start before suffering losses in their last three outings to the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles. Adding to their challenges, Prescott is now sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury that requires surgery, prompting backup Cooper Rush to assume the starting role. While Dallas already faced significant hurdles in their playoff aspirations, Prescott's absence further dampens any hopes of a turnaround, especially after a lopsided 34-6 defeat to Philadelphia last week. In the event that the Cowboys miss the playoffs, which seems increasingly probable, a coaching change appears all but certain as the franchise prepares for a new chapter.
