Cowboys Make Crucial Front-Office Move Ahead of Playoffs
The NFL playoffs are here and the Dallas Cowboys are preparing for an NFC Wild Card tilt against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. But while a good portion of the football world is focused on the playoffs, Cowboys fans have had to deal with other teams attempting to lure defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and vice president of player personnel Will McClay away from the franchise.
While Quinn's next chapter is still up in the air for the time being (potentially until the playoffs are over), McClay's future was cleared up on Friday.
Don't worry, Cowboys fans: it's good news.
Cowboys News: Will McClay to Remain in Dallas
Sources close to ESPN's Todd Archer revealed that McClay will remain with the Cowboys going forward. Archer added that while teams like the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers requested to speak with the 57-year-old, sources indicate that he's "very happy" in the Lone Star State.
Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay will remain with the Cowboys. Per a source, he will not interview with other teams. Washington and the Los Angeles Chargers had sought permission to meet with McClay. “He is very happy with being here,” the source said.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 12, 2024
Even head coach Mike McCarthy is excited about McClay staying put, telling reporters after the announcement that he's "very happy for Will" and that his staying put is "great" for the Cowboys.
Mike McCarthy on Will McClay not going for other jobs: "Very happy for Will personally. This is great for the Dallas Cowboys." Commanders and Chargers requested permission to speak with McClay for vacant GM jobs. Panthers were also interested. McClay is staying put as expected.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 12, 2024
McClay has been with the Cowboys for over two decades at this point. He began as a pro scout in 2003 before quickly ascending the ranks. He became the director of football research in 2011 and even spent a few years as the senior director of pro and college scouting before being promoted to his current role in 2017.
With Jerry Jones running the show in Dallas, some fans and experts assume that McClay will never be promoted to general manager, hence why there's been speculation regarding a potential exit. Having said that, he's essentially Dallas' GM without a title, hence why he's likely sticking around.
At the end of the day, the Cowboys are a better franchise with McClay in the fold. He's been one of the driving forces behind bringing in the likes of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Zack Martin, and Trevon Diggs, as well as a plethora of other fan favorites.
Time will tell if McClay's work will finally pay off this NFL postseason. As the Wild Card tilt with the Packers looms, the Cowboys own the fourth-best odds to win Super Bowl LVIII on BetMGM.
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