Jerry Jones: ‘Not crazy’ Cowboys could keep Mike McCarthy

FRISCO, Texas – Much of the discussion surrounding Mike McCarthy during the Dallas Cowboys’ struggles this season centered around the coach’s job security during the season.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was asked on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday if it was crazy to think McCarthy could get a contract extension after the season.

“I don’t think that’s crazy at all. That’s not crazy,” Jones said. “Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach “We’re going to get there at the end of this year with this team. And we shouldn’t have much football left.”

McCarthy was asked about Jones’ comments later Tuesday.

“I really haven’t talked about it all year and I’m definitely not going to start with a short week and an important division game,” he said. “But I won’t throw away the positive mood either. So let them move on. It’s all good. But yeah, that’s not something I really focus on.”

The Cowboys are 4-7 and ended a five-game losing streak with their win against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. They play the New York Giants on Thanksgiving, 2-9, followed by games against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) and Carolina Panthers (3-8).

“This thing isn’t over yet,” Jones told The Fan.

Jones noted that the Cowboys will have players like wide receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and others coming off injured reserve, as well as guards Zack Martin (ankle, shoulder) and Tyler Smith (knee, ankle) and tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) will return from injury.

But the Cowboys are on thin ice. Since 1990, seven teams have started 4-7 and made the playoffs; However, two of those teams (Washington in 2020 and Carolina in 2014) won their divisions with records below .500. Since the 17-game schedule was expanded in 2021, two teams with 4-7 starts have made the playoffs (Jacksonville in 2022 and Tampa Bay in 2023), but both were division winners.

The Cowboys are in third place in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) and Commanders (7-5) and trail only the Giants and Panthers in the conference standings.

In 2018, the Cowboys went 3-5 before clinching a playoff spot, winning seven of their last eight games.

Although some Cowboys fans may not want to see more wins, which would move the team down in the draft order, Jones isn’t thinking about tanking.

“I just think the game is too important. The win is too important,” Jones said. “Look at a coach and, boy, there’s a coach sitting there, don’t think he doesn’t add up his wins and losses throughout his career, and he doesn’t like having a loss there if that’s all he can ask for. “And that’s why a win is a very satisfying thing for all of us under any circumstances, and there’s a lot of ambiguity with these draft picks, as you know. Draft picks that were exceptionally high, that didn’t work out. I had them low, that knocked it out of the park. And that’s why you have to weigh what happens if you get the picks and what the likelihood is that you’re going to knock one out of the park there, as opposed to winning a game.