Mike McCarthy is coming back to the Cowboys, but there’s a bit of a catch with his contract.
Owner Jerry Jones and the team announced earlier this week that despite a first-round playoff exit, McCarthy would return in his role for the 2024 season.
And while Jones sang McCarthy’s praises after the decision was revealed, it appears that the positive feelings were not enough to earn him a bigger contract.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McCarthy will not be getting an extension and will instead be coaching the 2024 season on an expiring deal.
Sources told the NFL insider that McCarthy could have some issues if the team has any openings to fill because of the coach’s lack of long-term job security.
McCarthy has excelled in the regular season in Dallas, putting up three straight 12-win seasons.
But playoff success has not followed, as the Cowboys have gone 1-3 under his leadership, most recently getting crushed by the underdog Packers at home, 48-32, in the NFC wild-card round this year.
Jones, when he announced his decision Wednesday, said it wasn’t just McCarthy who was just at fault for the playoff flop.
“Certainly, Mike’s career has demonstrated postseason success at a high level, and we have great confidence that can continue,” Jones said in a statement.
“Further, our loss on Sunday is shared by everyone here, not just Coach McCarthy. Our players. Our coaches. Our front office. Myself. There is accountability for our results. I am accountable for our results. The lens we use to view and evaluate Coach McCarthy is holistic.”
And while McCarthy might not be getting a job extension, star quarterback Dak Prescott is “on track” for a big one, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Prescott will have a $59.455 million salary-cap hit for 2024, per NFL.com, the last year of his current four-year contract.
The 30-year-old is coming off a 2023 season in which he threw a career-high 36 touchdowns with 4,449 yards through the air.