The Dallas Cowboys gave Head Coach Mike McCarthy a contract extension in 2024, meaning he will coach on an expiring deal. The team’s dedication to McCarthy while not throwing massive money at him is both good and bad. Here are the upsides and downsides of the Cowboys keeping their head coach for one more year.
Cowboys Retain Mike McCarthy On Expiring Contract; The Good and Bad
Good: Diverse Play Calling
We finally got to see CeeDee Lamb in the backfield more often. We finally got to see young playmakers like Jalen Tolbert and Jake Ferguson fully utilized. Many NFL teams are dying to see their talent fully on display. Mike McCarthy might be on the hot seat, but the play-calling was equally hot as the season progressed.
In the Wild Card game against Green Bay, clear second-half adjustments were made on offense. CeeDee Lamb finally got the ball, Prescott improved, and the offense kept Dallas in the game. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about the defense. While the Packers gashed Dallas over and over with QB Jordan Love and WR Romeo Doubs, Dallas’ offense kept the score closer than many realize. It would have been a blowout of disgusting proportions if not for McCarthy’s adjustments. That is reason enough to keep him for one more year.
Bad: A Glass Ceiling
A Mike McCarthy contract extension would cost the Cowboys money they don’t have. Sure, there’s some cap space available, but it isn’t always about the cash.
The former Packers’ head coach went 10-8 in the playoffs, winning a Super Bowl in 2011. More than 10 years later, McCarthy is 1-3 in the playoffs with Dallas. It’s only been four years, but that’s like night and day. The Cowboys used to be a team that wouldn’t settle for less than perfect.
In Mike McCarthy’s four-year tenure as Cowboys Head Coach, Dallas has seen three playoff exits, two of which to San Francisco. Mike McCarthy was a Super Bowl-winning coach. It’s safe to say that Cowboys fans had higher expectations than playoff embarrassment for three straight years. How much more do the fans need to sit through before a change is made?
Good: It’s Mike or Break
Some could call this a good thing, as walking on a cracking plank could light a fire in McCarthy. It’s not necessarily unreasonable to say that fear is a good motivator in the NFL. McCarthy’s 17 seasons as an NFL Head Coach have seen him develop the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb, DaVante Adams, Jordy Nelson… the list goes on.
It’s time that McCarthy does the same for the Cowboys. While 19 key players like RB Tony Pollard and LT Tyron Smith are set to become free agents, the ones staying home should benefit from McCarthy’s ‘make or break’ 2024.
Mike McCarthy’s job status is far less in question than that of Dan Quinn. The latter is already on his second round of interviews with the Seattle Seahawks, and Cowboys fans are calling for his head. Calling for the head coach’s job on an expiring contract is pointless. There’s nothing left for McCarthy to do except push Dallas further into the playoffs.
And if he doesn’t? Well, the writing is already on the wall. It’s Mike or break season.
Main Photo: [Wm. Glasheen] – USA Today Sports
