The Dallas Cowboys have struggled in 2024.
A season that began with hopes of a playoff run has faded into one that may see them miss the postseason altogether for the first time in four years.
Dallas have a 4-7 record and sit third in the NFC East heading into Thanksgiving.
To add to the misery, quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the season due to a torn hamstring that required surgery.
It looks the like the Cowboys will fall short of their lofty ambitions once again, and barring a turnaround in fortunes, questions will soon be raised about what needs to change in 2025.
Owner Jerry Jones has spent much of his time in recent weeks insisting he is not going to make a midseason coaching change, with some fans calling for Mike McCarthy to be replaced.
Speaking this week, following a big win against the Washington Commanders – a divisional rival – Jones risked further frustrating Cowboys fans by suggesting he could instead extend McCarthy’s contract.
“I don’t think that’s crazy at all.” Jones said of the idea, speaking to 105.3 The Fan.
“That’s not crazy. Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach.
“This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there, done that, he’s got great ideas.
“Bottom line is, there’s no place in my body language or anything else that you’ve seen indications about what we’re going to be doing relative to this staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn’t. We’ve got a lot of football left.”
In just under five years with the Cowboys, McCarthy has gone 1-3 in the postseason – a far cry from his 2010 Super Bowl season with the Green Bay Packers.
Sunday’s wild 34-26 win against the Commanders snapped a five-game losing streak, during which McCarthy seemed all but finished in Dallas.
But even that victory, and the fact that the Cowboys are facing four teams currently sitting under .500 in the next four weeks, has not been enough to convince fans that the head coach should be given more time.
“Cowboys are so cooked,” one person wrote on X, responding to Jones’ comments.
“If we’ve learned anything about Jerry Jones, he certainly does not care about fan sentiment,” another said.
“This team is about to be the next Panthers,” a third wrote.
“Mike McCarthy hasn’t coached a single good game for the Cowboys. Embarrassing organisation,” a fourth concluded.
Jones’ decision making isn’t trusted by Cowboys fans[/caption]
With a boost of confidence from owner Jones, McCarthy and his team will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce when they host the struggling New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving.
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