Mike McCarthy: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ‘floored’ by latest playoff defeat to Green Bay Packers.
On Super Wild Card Weekend, the Dallas Cowboys are humiliated 48–32 at home by the Green Bay Packers; Mike McCarthy has only won one playoff game in his four years as head coach; may Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots’ six-time Super Bowl champion, take his place?
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, expressed his shock at the team’s crushing playoff defeat at home against the Green Bay Packers on Super Wild Card Weekend, saying he hadn’t given head coach Mike McCarthy any thought.
The Cowboys, seeded second in the NFC, were favoured to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, having won their last 16 straight home games, but were blown away in a 48-32 blowout loss to the seventh seeds.
McCarthy has one more year left on his contract, with many speculating he could be on his way out of Dallas after returning just one playoff win in his four years in charge.
A number of high-profile head coaches are currently available on the market, including Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls in his 24-year tenure with the New England Patriots that ended on Thursday.
“I haven’t thought one second about it,” Jones told reporters of McCarthy’s future. “I know how much it meant to our fans to advance.
“The only thing on my mind almost this entire game was not an analysis of our strategy, not an analysis of our play, it was, ‘Do we get to play here again next week?’ And we can’t.”
Dallas’ loss stretches their Super Bowl drought to 28 seasons, with the team failing to progress past the Divisional Round of the playoffs in that period.
Jones added: “This seems like the most painful [playoff loss] because we all had such great expectations and had hope for this team.
“I’m floored. This is beyond my comprehension.”
Prescott: McCarthy has been amazing
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who is set to count $59.4m against the salary cap in the final year of his contract next season came out in support of his head coach. “He’s been amazing [McCarthy],” he said
“I don’t know how there can be [questions about his future] but I understand the business.
“In that case, then there should be about me as well, honestly.
“I’ve had the season I’ve had because of him. This team has had the success that they’ve had because of him.
“I understand it’s about winning the Super Bowl and that’s the standard of the league and damn sure the standard of this place… I get it. But add me to the list in that case.”
After going 6-10 in his first season in Dallas, McCarthy – a former Super Bowl winner with the Packers in 2010 – has led the Cowboys to three-straight 12-win seasons and NFC East titles in 2021 and 2023.
Prescott led the NFL in touchdown passes during the regular season with 36, but he threw two costly first-half interceptions in the Cowboys latest playoff loss to the Packers, the second of which was returned for a touchdown by Darnell Savage Jr.
Prescott remarked, “I sucked tonight,” following his first multi-interception game at home this year. “I started it a little later, but at that time, it made no difference.
“Well, it’s all about the victory. It all comes down to winning the postseason and making it to the final game, where victory is assured. It’s difficult.”
After the loss, McCarthy would not discuss his future plans. “I’ve got a whole team in the locker room that’s hurting,” he stated.
“I haven’t given this game’s outcome any thought… I doubt that anyone anticipated this.”
Should the Cowboys fire McCarthy?
Former Cowboys defensive back Jason Bell on Sky Sports:
“They will move on from their head coach, I believe, but there could also be a trade happening to maybe get a new quarterback.
“Do you want to pay him [Prescott] again?”
Former Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter on Sky Sports:
“Jerry Jones in particular wants to win now, so he’ll be looking for the proper combination to make that happen.
“I anticipate a lot of movement from the head coach to the quarterback. You also need to consider your rushing back and interior defensive line since you will have problems in the postseason if you are unable to run.”
Ndamukong Suh, the defensive tackle that won the Super Bowl, on Sky Sports:
There are well-known [coaching] figures in the field. Since coach McCarthy is nearing the end of his career, I would be shocked if he returned for a fourth season the following year.”
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