Cowboys will not bring back head coach Mike McCarthy, reports say

The Dallas Cowboys will not bring back head coach Mike McCarthy, according to multiple reports.

McCarthy signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys before the 2020 season that’s set to expire on Tuesday. Dallas and McCarthy were reportedly in negotiations for a new deal but couldn’t agree to terms, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

In five seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach, McCarthy posted a 49-35 record. His .583 winning percentage is fourth-best in franchise history. McCarthy coached three straight 12-5 teams from 2021 to 2023, but he struggled in the playoffs, winning only one game in four tries.

Dallas is coming off a season in which it finished 7-10. The Cowboys got off to an average start, splitting their first six games. Then, in a Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, quarterback Dak Prescott was lost for the season with a hamstring injury.

Still, after a 3-5 start, Dallas finished 4-5 even without Prescott.

Whoever the Cowboys hire next will be only their third head coach since the 2011 season. Prior to McCarthy, Jason Garrett coached the team from the middle of the 2010 season through 2019.

McCarthy, reports ESPN, is expected to be a candidate for other jobs during the current coaching cycle. The Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints are other teams rumored to be interested in McCarthy.

Before taking the Dallas job, McCarthy was head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018, when he was fired 12 games into the season. During his time with the Packers, McCarthy went 125-77-2, and won a Super Bowl after the 2010 season.

McCarthy has also served as an offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.

In his career, McCarthy is 174-112-2, with an 11-11 playoff record. He is 12th on the NFL’s all-time wins list.