David Helman
NFL reporter
Like so many issues over these lengthy 29 years, Mike McCarthy’s time in Dallas led to confusion.
It did not include a bang, or perhaps a whimper. There was no loud announcement or perhaps a late morning press launch, as one would anticipate from most NFL groups. This would by no means occur with the Dallas Cowboys.
Instead, what we bought was every week of uncertainty and closed-door negotiations. The Cowboys did not like their coach sufficient to instantly signal him to a brand new contract, however they appreciated him sufficient to maintain different golf equipment from inquiring about his companies.
Finally, thank goodness, after eight days, phrase bought out. McCarthy’s contract does not formally expire till Tuesday night time, however he will not get a brand new one with the Cowboys. A perplexing begin to the brand new yr.
This must be nothing new to loyal followers of this iconic franchise. January can typically be a complicated time for the Cowboys. This is probably not a playoff fiasco like “Dez Caught It” or final yr’s wild card no-show, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a becoming conclusion.
After all, McCarthy’s complete tenure might be described as complicated.
Maybe it appears unusual to you at this level. It’s simple to resign the final 5 years to the pile of mediocrity contemplating how issues have performed out in 2024. It’s been 12 months since that playoff loss to Green Bay pressured McCarthy to teach for his job. It’s been 10 months because it grew to become painfully apparent that McCarthy would not have the identical caliber of roster that he had in years previous. It’s been 4 months for the reason that Cowboys opened their season in putrid trend, and it has been three months since they misplaced Dak Prescott to a season-ending damage.
And it is true that the NFL tends to be a zero-sum recreation. McCarthy was employed in January 2020 to carry a championship again to a proud franchise, as he did for the Green Bay Packers. At his introductory press convention, he beamed with satisfaction in what he had completed elsewhere and his “unwavering dedication” to do the identical in Dallas.
In this context, and with the rising variety of years for the reason that Cowboys’ championship, it is simple to put in writing this off as a failure.
But it additionally does not do justice to what the Dallas Cowboys have been earlier than his arrival.
Like it or not, McCarthy’s successful proportion of .583 is the second greatest for a Cowboys coach for the reason that glory days of the mid-Nineteen Nineties. His three playoff appearances tie Jason Garrett for essentially the most for the reason that crew received its final Super Bowl — and McCarthy has executed so in half as many seasons.
This is the complicated half. The laborious fact is that McCarthy oversaw essentially the most secure run of profitable Cowboys soccer in a era. When he was employed in 2020, the Cowboys hadn’t made consecutive journeys to the postseason since 2006-07. And in the end, his three consecutive 12-win seasons from 2021-2023 marked the membership’s greatest regular-season stretch since 1993-95.
However, all of it pales compared to what occurred within the following Januarys. Three consecutive early playoff exits: bullied by the 49ers in 2022, bullied once more by them in 2023, humiliated at dwelling by the Packers in 2024. To date, the Cowboys are the one No. 2 seed to lose towards a No. 7 seed since then. the NFL playoffs expanded 5 years in the past. And, if we’re being blunt, it is value noting that McCarthy’s solely playoff win with Dallas got here towards a Tampa Bay crew that completed its season 8-9. Not precisely a confidence-inspiring outcome.
The Cowboys completed with a top-five offense below McCarthy in every of the three seasons he had a wholesome Prescott. Speaking of Dak, McCarthy additionally oversaw his quarterback’s solely All-Pro season so far. If you feel much less beneficiant, the Cowboys additionally completed within the prime six in penalties confronted in 4 of McCarthy’s 5 seasons. Beauty actually is within the eye of the beholder.
Which leaves us right here: the Dallas Cowboys, who loved pretty much as good a season of regular-season soccer as they hadn’t seen in a era, however who’re additional away than ever from playoff success; and Mike McCarthy, who averaged 10 wins a yr and has nothing tangible to point out for it.
Cowboys followers are proper to need and anticipate greater than what Mike McCarthy has supplied. But because the 25 years previous him show, we should even be cautious of the following coach doing higher.
Maybe that is the least complicated technique to body it. Mike McCarthy leaves Dallas having failed to finish the Cowboys’ 29-year stroll via the Super Bowl wilderness. But as they put together to proceed this journey below new administration, it is honest to ask who precisely will lead them again to glory.
David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports and hosts the NFL podcast on FOX. He beforehand spent 9 seasons masking the Cowboys for the crew’s official web site. In 2018 he received a regional Emmy for his function within the manufacturing of “Dak Prescott: A Family Reunion” in regards to the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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