The question might not be ‘if’ Jerry Jones brings Mike McCarthy back, it will be ‘how’ he returns

Following Sunday’s 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders in the season finale for the Dallas Cowboys, the focus immediately shifted toward the offseason and the numerous questions that remain for owner Jerry Jones to answer.

The most pressing: what will happen with head coach Mike McCarthy?

After five seasons in Dallas, McCarthy’s contract with the team has expired and a decision lies in the hands of Jones to find a replacement or bring him back on another deal. The contract for McCarthy officially comes to a close on Wednesday, but the exclusive negotiating period with him extends until Jan. 14.

After holding court with reporters for more than 40 minutes after Sunday’s game, Jones let on that his decision might not be “if” McCarthy will be back, it will be “how” he will be back.

Let me explain.

Hang with me here as Jerry can send you quickly into a whirlwind if you let him.

He made his feelings about McCarthy known from the start.

“Mike is one of the best coaches I think there is,” Jones said in his first answer. “He was made the coach here because I thought that. He’s done nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach.”

Now, would he say the same thing about Jason Garrett? Wade Phillips? Tough to say, but one thing that those two did not get at the end of their tenures with the Cowboys that McCarthy might get is a negotiation for a deal.

“I don’t know that I am considering making a change,” Jones said. “It’s a given that I’ve decided, if we’re sitting around talking about a deal, it’s a given that I’ve decided to [go] in that direction,” he later added.

“The determining [if McCarthy is back] and the negotiating [with McCarthy] is all in one motion. It’s all one football motion. We’ll determine if the will is there and the terms are there.”

Throughout the season, Jones has praised McCarthy for certain challenges that he’s faced in 2024, most notably injuries on both sides of the ball. It will be factored in along with everything else that’s happened since 2020 when he determines what a deal could look like for McCarthy.

“That’s what the next few days and weeks are about founded on everything that’s happened this year and the last four years,” Jones said.

Quick pause. What about McCarthy?

While Jones was commanding a presence outside of the locker room, McCarthy was in the press conference room answering questions about his own decision that he has to make. Since his contract has expired, he can technically move on from the Cowboys if he decides.

Well, that decision seems to be made.

“Absolutely,” McCarthy said when asked if he wanted to return. “I have a lot invested here and the Cowboys have a lot invested in me.”

In speaking on a timeline for him to sit down with Jerry, McCarthy said that they will “get together in the near future” in order to move forward in a timely manner.

“I’m definitely in position with Jerry to move the program forward, there’s no question about that in my mind,” McCarthy said. “That’s why these conversations need to happen in the near future.”

How quick could that happen?

“I’ll follow kind of the timeline I’ve done in the past,” Jones said, referring to other coaching decisions he’s made. “How it’s evolved in the past is a time frame.”

A potential new deal with McCarthy could be complicated for the front office. Do they want him to meet certain parameters such as giving up offensive play-calling or some other factor? When asked if that could be considered, McCarthy talked around the topic. Jerry offered a bit more.

“Anything is possible,” Jones said when asked if there’s a reality McCarthy is back with a different play-caller. “Most of the fans want everyone to be on the incentive plan. Everybody wants it to be on the incentive plan. The more you have on the incentive plan, the more sports is aligned with sports.”

While the pieces will have to be laid out and agreed upon, I’m under the impression after listening to McCarthy and Jones on Sunday that the two will have to come to an agreement — not just Jerry deciding on his fate.

Each side will have their bargaining points, each will have certain things that will need to be met. For McCarthy, his pitch is simple.

“I’ll be clear, I’m a winner,” McCarthy said. “I know how to win. I’ve won a championship in this building. That’s who I am. We’ll see where it goes.”