Mike McCarthy’s Exit Adds to Jerry Jones’ History of Odd Decisions

The Cowboys have parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy and the timing is on par with Jerry Jones’s typical style. 

Mike McCarthy will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network reported Monday, with sources confirming the news. McCarthy’s original five-year contract expires Tuesday, but the parting of ways leaves more questions than answers for a franchise stuck in its championship drought.

For Cowboys fans, the timing is infuriating. Why wait until now? Why let valuable weeks — or months — slip away while other franchises acted decisively, locking up top coaching candidates? The clock has been ticking, and Dallas appears to have squandered it.

Thank you, Coach McCarthy#DallasCowboys | 📰 https://t.co/lZcM1wJESO pic.twitter.com/FKAHQ2MFWB

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 13, 2025

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Contract Length at Core of McCarthy Leaving

Then came the perplexing reason behind the split: McCarthy and team owner Jerry Jones reportedly couldn’t agree on the length of a new deal. Not strategy, not vision, but contract length. It’s a decision that speaks volumes about the Cowboys’ approach — or lack thereof. And it always seems to come down to something like this for the Cowboys and their executive decision-making.

A contract’s length serves two purposes for ownership: securing a coach long-term if they succeed and outlining buyout if they fail. This boils down to dollars and cents. For Jerry Jones, an 82-year-old billionaire worth $17 billion, money shouldn’t have been a barrier. Yet here we are, dissecting a decision rooted in financial hesitations for a team mired in a 29-year Super Bowl drought.

The question remains: is McCarthy the right coach or not? That’s the only factor that should have mattered. Jones’ unwillingness to commit or cut ties earlier underscores the indecision that has plagued his tenure. If McCarthy was their guy, re-sign him. If not, let him go — months ago.

McCarthy’s tenure was not without merit. He led Dallas to three straight playoff appearances, though he never broke through to an NFC Championship. Injuries ravaged this season, including the devastating loss of Dak Prescott. McCarthy’s track record, including a Super Bowl win in Green Bay, proves he’s a solid coach. But solid isn’t the standard in Dallas.

The #Cowboys' handling of negotiations and money is downright baffling: They basically sat out free agency last year, dragged their feet with player extensions, and created unnecessary drama with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott by waiting until the 11th hour to get deals done. And… https://t.co/u8VvWkYqUb pic.twitter.com/XOKUCymjmV

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 13, 2025

This delay not only clouds the team’s immediate future but potentially compromises its long-term trajectory. A swifter decision might have allowed Dallas to pursue Bill Belichick before the coaching legend shocked everyone by heading to the University of North Carolina. It could have opened the door for talks with Mike Vrabel before New England claimed him, or provided time to evaluate rising coordinators like Detroit’s Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, who embarrassed the Cowboys in Week 6.

Instead, Dallas stands here today: a storied franchise, paralyzed by indecision, staring at an uncertain path forward. It’s a reminder of what happens when urgency and clarity are absent. The Cowboys’ next move must carry the weight of their ambitions — and their history. Anything less would be just more of the same.