Mike McCarthy left his position as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys after his contract expired following a disappointing season that saw seven wins and ten losses.
NFL franchise owner Jerry Jones said “it became mutually clear that it would be best for each of us to go in a different direction” even though the Cowboys have an exclusive window until Tuesday to negotiate a new deal with McCarthy.
The 61-year-old spent five seasons in Dallas after succeeding Jason Garrett in 2020.
This year was his first losing season since the opening of his campaign, which was disrupted by Covid.
However, he has won just one playoff game during his tenure while suffering home defeats in the wildcard round in 2021 and 2023.
Jones praised McCarthy's record and his impact on “the unity and culture of our team,” calling him a “phenomenal human being.”
The former Green Bay Packers head coach is unlikely to remain out of a job for long, as the Chicago Bears made a formal request to Dallas for permission to speak with him last week, which was denied.
New Orleans Saints, external He has also reportedly shown interest, after coach Dennis Allen was sacked mid-season.
McCarthy is the fourth NFL coach to leave his job after the regular season ended last week.
Antonio Pierce, Doug Pederson, and Jerrod Mayo were fired by the Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New England Patriots, respectively, after losing seasons.
