The Dallas Cowboys have parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy after five seasons.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday that McCarthy is out as head coach after the two sides could not agree on the length of a new future contract.
Dallas missed the NFL playoffs this season after finishing the year 7-10 and third in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
McCarthy, who is set to become a free agent when his contract expires, leaves with a 49-35 overall record in the regular season, reaching the postseason in three of five campaigns, reaching the divisional round in 2022, as the Cowboys were eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers.
The Cowboys’ season was marred by a year-ending injury to quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed nine games after undergoing hip surgery in his first campaign following a four-year, $240 million contract extension with a score of -4.
Dallas and McCarthy entered the season under increased pressure following last season’s upset loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Their hopes of chasing a long-awaited return to the Super Bowl took an additional hit as they saw star running back Micah Parsons miss time and also lose right guard Zach Martin, cornerback Trevon Diggs and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence to injury.
McCarthy led the Cowboys to three straight 12-5 seasons and two NFC East titles from 2021-2023, during which Prescott led one of the NFL’s most potent offenses while Dan Quinn built a successful defense on his way to another head coaching job with commanders.
The 2021 campaign ended with a 23–17 loss to the 49ers in the Wild Card round, before Kyle Shanahan’s team defeated Dallas the following season with a 19–12 victory in the divisional round.
The Chicago Bears recently asked to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy, which was declined by the Cowboys in contract negotiations, while NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints may also be interested in Dennis Allen. with the search for a successor.