The Dallas Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy have reportedly not yet begun negotiations on a new deal. according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. McCarthy’s contract expires after midnight on Tuesday, at which point he will be free to talk to any team that wants to interview him.
The Chicago Bears had asked to interview McCarthy for their vacant head coaching job, but the Cowboys denied that request last week. Schefter reported that the New Orleans Saints are also expected to be interested if McCarthy becomes a free agent. Both teams fired their coaches during the season.
McCarthy has spent the last five seasons with the Cowboys, compiling a 49-35 record. However, he won only one playoff game with the franchise and spent the entire season coaching without a contract extension. The Cowboys were one of the league’s biggest disappointments this season, going just 7-10 and missing the playoffs.
Team owner Jerry Jones was very non-committal about McCarthy’s future with the team.
“I’ll kind of follow the time frame that I’ve done in the past,” he said when asked about it after their season-ending defeat on Sunday.
However, McCarthy has said he “absolutely” wants to return.
The Bears are looking for a new head coach to turn things around after a tough rookie year for QB Caleb Williams, while the Saints endured a seven-game losing streak in 2024 during a 5-12 season.