Jerry Jones Coy on Mike McCarthy Conversations about Cowboys' Future amid NFL Rumors

Despite speaking highly of Mike McCarthy in recent weeks, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn't ready to commit to bringing him back as head coach for the 2025 season.

During his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan's Shan & RJ show (h/t ESPN's Todd Archer), Jones was coy when talking about McCarthy's future with the organization:

"We're just talking about what is positive right now. We started the conversation talking about how good a job I think with the circumstances that we've been dealing with, how good a job that the coaching staff is doing. It's led by Mike McCarthy. And that's what we're doing. I'm saying just what I'm saying. I'm very impressed with how this team and how it's playing, and the level of tenacity, and I'm impressed with the fact we've got a lot of young players getting a lot of experience out there. The future looks bright there with those players."

Jones also said he frequently has discussions with McCarthy about the future of the organization, but that's not necessarily an indication he will remain with the club:

"It's implied every conversation we have about a position, about a player. Most of the time when you're discussing a situation on this football team, you're talking about the future. Now the future might be the next game, or it could be next month but it's always not so much dwelling on what happened last Sunday or what happened two weeks ago, not so much there. That's a reference point and that's what you've got to make a decision on. But all that counts is the next minute and going forward from there without being any way. The future is where our decision-making is."

Even though the Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16, McCarthy might have strengthened his case to return in 2025. They pulled off a 26-24 upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.

The Cowboys have won four of their last five games and could finish over .500 if they beat the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders in the final two weeks. They are riding this hot streak despite not having Dak Prescott since Week 9 due to a hamstring injury.

Jones has praised the job McCarthy has done throughout this season. He said on Nov. 26 it's not "crazy at all" to think McCarthy could get a new contract.

"That's not crazy," Jones explained. "And listen, Mike McCarthy is one outstanding coach... this is a Super Bowl winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there, done that. He's got great ideas."

McCarthy is in the final season of his contract, so Jones doesn't even have to do anything if he wants to make a change. He could just let the deal run out and announce he will be hiring a new coach.

Given McCarthy's struggles when the Cowboys have made the playoffs, Jones has to decide if it's worth it to give him another crack at righting the ship in 2025 and beyond.

The fact the Cowboys are still playing hard for McCarthy in what has been an often-frustrating season does speak well of his ability to communicate and motivate the players.

McCarthy is 49-33 in five seasons as Cowboys head coach. Their 49 wins since 2020 are tied for the seventh-most in the NFL during that span.