In an offseason that features multiple highly regarded coaching candidates, the Cowboys seem perfectly content re-signing their head coach, provided, of course, their terms are met.
The Cowboys love themselves some bargains. The NFL’s most frugal free agent spenders have gained quite the reputation in recent years for keeping their purse strings tied tightly during the league’s most expensive event of the offseason.
At a time of the year when contenders and pretenders alike try desperately to lure the objects of their affection to their respective franchises, the Cowboys appear perfectly content sitting things out and waiting for the dust to settle. It’s a free agent strategy fans and local media have grown accustomed to.
Jerry Jones and son Stephen Jones, the top financial decision makers in Dallas, aren’t interested in bidding wars or top-of-the-market outsiders. Even if those types of players are the best ways to improve the roster, they’re costly and the Cowboys don’t like costly.
Following Dallas’ postseason collapse against Green Bay last winter, Mike McCarthy looked like a dead man walking. It was possibly the most embarrassing loss in Cowboys history, and yet another sign McCarthy offered Dallas zero strategic value as a tactician and play-caller. At the time, McCarthy’s departure wasn’t an “if,” but a “when.”
One seven-win season later and McCarthy’s departure suddenly isn’t so imminent. In fact, McCarthy and the Cowboys are said to be taking part in negotiations as we speak. Whether he’s re-signed tomorrow, next week, or not at all, isn’t the point. The point is the Cowboys are willing to settle for McCarthy if the price and terms are right, assuming reports are correct. Once again, they aren’t interested in the best man for the job, they’re trying to get the best bargain.
Even McCarthy’s biggest supporters would have a tough time arguing he’s a better option than the likes of Ben Johnson, Joe Brady and others. Yet, the Cowboys are seemingly only interested in an outsider if McCarthy won’t meet their terms. It’s a baffling attitude to take since coaching contracts are unencumbered by cap restrictions, and inexcusable since enormously profitable teams like the Cowboys can afford the very best coach the market has to offer.
It’s hard to think of many big games McCarthy has won against an evenly matched opponent. He beat Washington in 2024 and Philadelphia in 2023 but for every one of those borderline big wins, are two or three bigger losses (to evenly matched opponents). If it wasn’t for an 8-9 Tampa Bay team sneaking into the playoffs in 2022, McCarthy would be completely winless in the postseason since coming to Dallas. It’s hard to make the case he’s the best man for the job in Dallas.
But he might be the biggest bargain and that might be all the Cowboys are looking for.
