With Mike McCarthy out as coach, expect Dallas Cowboys to go after their ‘golden child’ | Opinion

Mike McCarthy wanted this, Jerry Jones wanted that, and with that the Dallas Cowboys need a new head coach.

Knowing he had real suitors waiting to talk to him about NFL head coaching jobs, McCarthy didn’t cave to the demands of his now former boss in contract negotiations that ended with no deal.

McCarthy is out, and Jerry is looking for what will be his ninth head coach since he bought the Cowboys.

According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, McCarthy and Jones could not come to an agreement on a contract, and McCarthy’s time with the Cowboys is over. He was set to become a free agent at midnight on Tuesday.

“Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction,” Jerry Jones said in a statement. “I thank Mike and wish him, his wife Jessica and their family the best. They have been a wonderful part of our community here.”

There are at least a few parts of that statement that read true.

It was not a great sign that the Cowboys’ season had been over for more than a week, and Jerry still had not signed a head coach whom he spoke so fondly. McCarthy made the right decision, and he should be the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.

His priority was to remain as the head coach of the Cowboys, but at this point in his life and career he earned the right to ask for particulars. Length of contract is one. Specifics on personnel is another.

McCarthy’s exit will trigger a wave of departures from the team, from the assistant coaches to potentially director of player personnel, Will McClay.

McCarthy finished 84-49 in his five seasons with the Cowboys, which included three straight 12-5 seasons with playoff appearances in each of those years. Like so many coaches before him who aren’t named Switzer, McCarthy could not lead the Cowboys to the NFC title game, much less a Super Bowl.

McCarthy was hired to do what Jason Garrett never did, win in the playoffs. McCarthy won a playoff game in his tenure with the Cowboys, a 2023 wildcard round win in Tampa that was the final game of Tom Brady’s career.

Ultimately, McCarthy was just a few wins better than Garrett.

Jerry and his family will now set out to find their next “right guy.”

On the list should be Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He is on the candidate list for several teams this season, and Dallas should now be included.

He played at Texas A&M, and for the Dallas Cowboys, in 2005 and ‘06, under coach Bill Parcells.

Glenn has been a big part of Lions’ coach Dan Campbell’s staff in their efforts to bring that awful franchise from the hinterlands. Because the Cowboys waited to make this announcement, and the Lions are still in the playoffs, they can’t talk to him until Detroit’s season is over.

Former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who is currently the head coach at Liberty Christian in Argyle, will likely also receive a phone call.

Do not be surprised if Jerry reaches out to University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who has repeatedly said he wants to remain in Boulder.

The immediate leader in the race to be Jerry’s next coach, however, is Kellen Moore.

The current offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles is well respected throughout the Cowboys organization, and they have known him since he played for the team in 2015.

One obscure detail to his playing career: In training camp in 2016, Moore likely would have been the starting quarterback for the team after Tony Romo suffered a back injury during preseason. However, Moore suffered a broken ankle during camp, which created the opportunity for rookie Dak Prescott.

Moore started his coaching career with the Cowboys as the quarterbacks coach, in 2018. He was good friends with Prescott, and the two worked well together.

Moore was eventually promoted to offensive coordinator, in 2019, under Garrett.

After Garrett was not re-signed to a new contract following that season, McCarthy retained Moore to be his offensive coordinator.

This relationship was not great. The two were not aligned on play calling, or offensive philosophies. McCarthy kept Moore in the role because both Jerry and Stephen Jones were so high on Kellen.

McCarthy eventually won this, however, and Moore left the team following the 2022 season. He spent the 2023 year as the offensive coordinator for the L.A. Chargers.

He took the same job for the Eagles in 2024. This is his sixth season as an NFL offensive coordinator, and his current team is in the NFC’s “Final Four.”

A lot of people will want this job, because there is no other job in sports like it.

Jerry knows it, too.

All he has to do is find another one, and maybe that guy will do what no one since Switzer has.