Mike McCarthy Takes Major Step Toward Potential Cowboys Return

The Cowboys' nightmare season is finally over, and the focus is now fully on the offseason. The biggest thing on the to-do list is obviously resolving the head coaching situation.

Teams that are searching for a new head coach have already begun conducting interviews. The Cowboys, on the other hand, were in the process of deciding on whether to retain Mike McCarthy. It looks like Jerry Jones & Co. is leaning heavily on keeping McCarthy going forward. Per NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys and McCarthy are expected to start talks on a contract extension today.

Cowboys News: Mike McCarthy One Step Closer to Contract Extension

McCarthy's contract officially expires on Tuesday, and he will be free to pursue other opportunities after that. Pelissero noted that there have been no official negotiations between the sides and that there are still issues to be worked out. The Cowboys have a few days to finalize the contract extension with McCarthy and it looks like a deal is more likely than not.

For Cowboys fans reading the tea leaves, this is not surprising. Jones has been very complimentary of the job McCarthy has been doing in the second half of the season, praising how he managed to keep the locker room together and get the team to fight until the end.

Looking back a year ago, however, this outcome should be very surprising. Before the 2024 season, Jones refused to give McCarthy a contract extension and it was widely reported that this would be a make-or-break season for the experienced head coach. Giving him an extension now after going 7-10 in one of the most disappointing seasons in recent Cowboys history certainly raises eyebrows.

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