Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy joyfully hugs owner Jerry Jones amid contract drama
When you win, when you go back to the locker room after the game, everything feels great.
But for Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, every win at the end of the regular season could mean a contract extension. A big hug with owner Jerry Jones left fans wondering if that was coming.
McCarthy and Jones were photographed hugging each other after the Cowboys defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 on “Sunday Night Football.”
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fielded questions from new head coach Mike McCarthy during a news conference at the Star’s Ford Center. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
They were all smiles as they hugged, but Jones also seemed to grow serious as he spoke to McCarthy, although the microphone couldn’t pick up what he said. On the surface, this was a good, serious conversation to have when the Cowboys were 7-8 on the year.
Now, the reality of the season is that the Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention, which is not what Jones or anyone in the organization expected to see at the end of Week 17.
However, McCarthy has reinvigorated a team that fell to 7-3 following a Nov. 18 loss to the Houston Texans.
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Dallas has won four of its past five games without quarterback Dak Prescott, who suffered a leg injury against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 3. The hamstring injury required surgical repair, ending his 2024 season prematurely.
Jones likes what he’s seen in the owner’s box in recent weeks.
“Those guys came out and played like they were playing in the championship game to get to the Super Bowl,” Jones said after the win, according to Yahoo Sports. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of them and the coaching staff. It really spoke to me. Shows something.”
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy watches the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Speaking to the media, McCarthy talked about the locker room he just entered and how he feels like his team is still playing like it’s the last game of the season, even if the playoffs are not in the picture.
“I just think it gives you an idea of who they are,” McCarthy explained. “I think everyone says that coaches always speak highly of the locker room — well, that’s what I say. When I talk about, ‘This is a great locker room,’ that’s the definition of it. This is a A great locker room looks like this.
It’s a big turnaround for McCarthy, who seemed all but ruled out as the Cowboys moved closer to the No. 1 draft pick rather than a playoff berth. Despite the ordeal in 2024, McCarthy received approval from Prescott and others for an extension.
Jones himself even commented on McCarthy’s contract status recently, saying as Thanksgiving approached that he didn’t think it was “at all crazy” to extend McCarthy’s contract. After all, McCarthy was 12-5 in each of the past three seasons prior to this season and could still have a year above .500.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy walks the sideline during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. (Tim Heitman-Imaan Photo)
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McCarthy has two weeks left on his current contract, and if Dallas performs strongly against two NFC East potential playoff teams, the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, perhaps he will continue to lead the “U.S. Team” towards the future.
As the saying goes, end the year on a high note. McCarthy’s “boys” played accordingly.
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