Mike McCarthy (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys appear to have already made a decision on the future of head coach Mike McCarthy amid one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

Mike McCarthy is in the last season of a five-year deal he signed with the Cowboys in 2020, replacing Jason Garrett as the head coach of America’s Team. With the Cowboys (3-6) headed for their first losing season in four years, it sounds like McCarthy will be let go at the end of the season.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, it would be considered a giant “surprise” internally if McCarthy was brought back for a sixth year in Dallas.

“I was in Dallas over the weekend, and there’s a great deal of chatter about who might be coaching the team next year, as Mike McCarthy is not signed for 2025. It would surprise a lot of people to see him back. Jerry Jones has made it clear he won’t change coaches during the season, so McCarthy will at least get to coach out the season.”

Garrett’s contract expired with the Cowboys after the 2019 season, and owner Jerry Jones made the decision not to renew his deal. It appears a similar fate awaits McCarthy, despite Jones’ reputation for being overly patient with coaches not named Jimmy Johnson.

The last times Jones actually let go of a coach in the middle of his contract was 2010. Wade Phillips was let go midseason in favor of Garrett, who miraculously lasted 10 years in Dallas despite only leading them to two playoff wins.

McCarthy’s reputation as an offensive-minded genius began to fade in his final years with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. That said, Dallas churned out a top-10 offense in each of Dak Prescott’s three healthy seasons behind center, so McCarthy should garner consideration as an offensive assistant if he becomes a free agent in January.

Cowboys Must Move On From Mike McCarthy

The Cowboys probably should have let go of the Super Bowl 45-winning head coach after their humiliating Wild Card Round loss at the hands of the Packers last year. But Jones decided to give him a fifth year despite a woeful 1-3 postseason record as their head coach.

McCarthy led Dallas to three straight 12-win seasons from 2021 to 2023, but his inability to get the team past the Divisional Round will overshadow the regular season success.