Dallas Cowboys fans hoping for a coaching change will not be happy with the latest Mike McCarthy news.
The 61-year-old Mike McCarthy completed the fifth and final year of his coaching contract that officially expires on Jan. 14. So Jerry Jones and company still have first dibs on McCarthy before other teams can interview him.
On Monday, it was reported that the Chicago Bears requested permission from the Cowboys to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dallas has denied Chicago’s request.
This doesn’t mean the Bears are out on the McCarthy sweepstakes. Jones still hasn’t made a decision on McCarthy, but if he decides to make a change, Chicago could try and set up an interview once his deal expires.
Still, Dallas’ refusal to let Chicago speak with McCarthy isn’t the most welcoming news for disgruntled Cowboys fans. It’s still a strong hint that Jones may end up retaining a head coach who has one playoff win in five years with a star-studded Dallas teamThe Bears have one of six NFL head coach vacancies, along with the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. That number will increase to seven if Dallas moves on from McCarthy, though.
Mike McCarthy Could Use A Fresh Start
With all due respect to McCarthy and other long-tenured NFL coaches, five years is usually way too long for a person who hasn’t led his team to multiple playoff wins. McCarthy’s success running offensive machines in Dallas and Green Bay can’t be overlooked, but signing a new deal with the Cowboys would be a mistake.
McCarthy can sign up for more awful roster management and personnel decisions by Jones, or he can seek a fresh start that would be best for his coaching future. A team like the Bears, with a young franchise QB in Caleb Williams, would be a much better fit for McCarthy at this stage.
