By ESPN | Created at 2025-01-13 17:24:12 | Updated at 2025-01-14 10:42:41
17 hours ago
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterJan 13, 2025, 12:12 PM ET
- Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can follow him on Twitter at @toddarcher.
Mike McCarthy is not expected to return as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach and is now set to become a free agent, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
McCarthy's contract with the Cowboys expired last Wednesday but the team held an exclusive negotiating window with the coach until Tuesday at midnight. However, the sides have not had any negotiations regarding a new deal, sources told Schefter on Monday.
The Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints are expected to be interested in speaking with him regarding their vacancies, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Last week, the Bears had an official request for permission to speak with McCarthy denied by the Cowboys.
Last week, McCarthy and owner and general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke at least three times. The initial discussions were about what happened in 2024, going through their normal end-of-season protocol. The other days were about the future and what could change, either in the Cowboys' approach to roster building, McCarthy's approach to offense and McCarthy's approach to his coaching staff.
In 2019, Jones allowed Jason Garrett to coach with an expiring contract. The Cowboys did not put out an announcement that Garrett would not be back until a week after the season and following the interviews the team had with McCarthy and Marvin Lewis.
McCarthy was named coach of the Cowboys 10 days after the 2019 season ended.
The Cowboys went 7-10 in 2024, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. McCarthy has posted a 49-35 regular season record with Dallas, but he is 1-3 in the playoffs.
The Cowboys experienced a large number of injuries to key players, such as quarterback Dak Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, guard Zack Martin, cornerback Trevon Diggs and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who all ended the season on injured reserve. Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) missed four games and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) missed 11.
Even before the injuries, however, the Cowboys struggled on both sides of the ball, losing their first five home games by 118 points. They rallied, winning four games in a five-game stretch, but lost their final two games after they were eliminated from postseason contention.
In addition to McCarthy, his entire coaching staff is not under contract and have the same negotiating window close Tuesday at midnight.
