Cowboys' Mike McCarthy 'Absolutely' Wants to Return as HC Amid Saints Rumors

As rumors swirl about Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy potentially moving to New Orleans to take over the Saints program, McCarthy is making it clear that he "absolutely" wants to remain in Dallas.

"I have a lot of confidence in myself as a head coach," McCarthy said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. "... I'm definitely in position with Jerry to move the program forward. There's no question about that in mind."

Machota reported that McCarthy believes that he and Dallas Owner Jerry Jones will get together in the "near future" to discuss the matter as Jones remains unsure what the future holds.

"I don't know that I am considering making a (coaching) change," Jones said, per Machota.

The possibility of bringing back McCarthy with a different offensive play-caller is something that Jones would not rule out, adding that "anything is possible," per Machota.

The Athletic's Diana Russini reported Saturday that the Saints "could also look at" McCarthy if he were to move on from the Cowboys, in addition to Kansas City's offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who is also being considered.

In addition to Jones, franchise quarterback Dak Prescott has shown his support for McCarthy despite the Cowboys' 7-10 losing season, their fourth in the last 10 years.

"It's tough to probably get your job done and do your job with all that hanging over your head," Prescott said about McCarthy, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "But credit to him, credit to his professionalism and really his coach's style of being able to get guys being ready to play and go out there and finish and take pride in what we finish and what we put on tape... Obviously, I'm a promoter of bringing him back."

Despite this, following the Cowboys' 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders on Saturday in their final game of the season, McCarthy fueled speculation about his future by taking extra time to embrace staff members in the locker room, a gesture that Dallas News beat writer Calvin Watkins noted he had never seen before.

The 61-year-old has been the Cowboys' head coach since 2020 and with his contract set to expire on Jan. 14, the team has yet to offer an extension.