FRISCO, Texas – The Mike McCarthy era is over in Dallas, as the Cowboys have officially announced their decision to part ways with McCarthy after five seasons.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones released the following statement on Monday:
"Throughout Mike McCarthy's tenure here, including the last several weeks, I have been very complimentary of the job he has done. That has applied to our record over that time period, our team unity and culture, Mike's qualifications and track record of success, and on a personal level as a tremendous human being," said Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones. "I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure.
Over the past week, Mike and I had the opportunity to conduct a joint review of all aspects of the past season, our players and staff, and also spent considerable time discussing the road forward for the team. These discussions were thorough and received an appropriate amount of time and depth to cover. Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction. I thank Mike and wish him, his wife Jessica and their family the best. They have been a wonderful part of our community here.
We will commence a search process immediately to hire the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys."
McCarthy was named the ninth head coach in the franchise's history on January 8, 2020, and led the Cowboys to a 49-35 regular season record during his time in Dallas. That tenure included three playoff appearances in three straight seasons from 2021-23, the first time the Cowboys had been to the postseason in three consecutive years since 1993-95.
In 2020, McCarthy's first season was in 2020, where a mixture of COVID and other struggles including losing quarterback Dak Prescott for the season with an ankle injury, and finished the tumultuous year 6-10.
The ship turned around in 2022, when McCarthy and the Cowboys recorded their first of three straight 12-5 seasons with a high-scoring offense and a valiant defense led by Dan Quinn, winning two NFC East championships in that time span.
In the playoffs, McCarthy's teams did not have the same success as they did in the regular season. Their only playoff victory came in the 2022 wild-card round against the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Their promising 2023 season came to an abrupt halt in a shocking 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card, a loss that owner Jerry Jones said was one of "the most painful" losses he's ever faced.
In 2024, things did not improve much for Dallas. Riddled with injuries from early portions of the season, impact players like DeMarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs dealt with injuries that lingered throughout the course of the year.
The Cowboys held a 3-4 record before losing Prescott in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons for the season with a hamstring injury, making things more difficult. Dallas would go on to finish the season 7-10, their worst record since the 2020 COVID year.
Now, Jones and the Cowboys will begin their search for the tenth head coach in franchise history and the ninth since Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989.
