Mike McCarthy Reflects on Jerry Jones, Cowboys Tenure After Steelers HC Contract

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday he thinks there are things he could have improved during his five seasons coaching the Dallas Cowboys.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced ahead of the 2025 season the organization would not be renewing McCarthy's contract because "it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction."

When asked by ESPN's Todd Archer to reflect on his tenure in Dallas during the NFL's annual league meetings in Phoenix, McCarthy said Tuesday, "Just some great people there. Really enjoyed working with them.

"Jerry, I got to see him on Sunday. So I miss him in a lot of ways... the family and just the way they treat the people working there, that's definitely something I miss."

McCarthy added that it was "wild" to start his tenure with the Cowboys during the 2020 NFL season that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cowboys went 6-10 that season, then improved to 12-5 for three straight seasons before falling back below .500 in 2024 as Dak Prescott missed time due to injury during McCarthy's final year with the team.

McCarthy left Dallas having compiled a career 49-35 regular-season record with one playoff win in five seasons.

"The start was wild," McCarthy said about his tenure in Dallas, per Archer. "I mean the pandemic year was something | look back on it, I felt like I could've done a better job. Just had a lot of balls in the air. But once we got the program going, I thought we kinda hit our stride there the second year.

"I really liked the direction of the team. When I left there, I liked the draft classes we put together. I have nothing but great things to say about my experience in Dallas."

McCarthy was hired by the Steelers to replace longtime head coach Mike Tomlin just over a year after parting ways with the Cowboys.

What the Steelers will look like in his first season at the helm depends at least in part on whether Aaron Rodgers decides to return for another season with the team. McCarthy told reporters in Phoenix he's been speaking to Rodgers "every couple of days" as the veteran quarterback contemplates his future.