Adam WellsJanuary 30, 2025
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Mike McCarthy’s tenure with the Dallas Cowboys came to an end in part because he couldn’t agree to terms on a new contract, but it hadn’t been clear until now exactly what the difference was between the two sides.
Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, Jerry Jones didn’t waver on his offer of three years, while McCarthy was seeking a five-year deal.
Financial terms of the Cowboys’ offer to McCarthy are unknown.
The Cowboys officially announced McCarthy wouldn’t return as head coach in a statement from Jones on Jan. 13.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported at the time the split was because the two sides couldn’t agree to terms on a new contract.
McCarthy’s original deal with the Cowboys, signed in January 2020, was for five years. His contract expired at the end of this season, but the team had an exclusive negotiating window that ran out on Jan. 14.
Jones’ actions and some of his comments seem to suggest he’s not interested in paying top-of-the-market money for a head coach.
Jane Slater @SlaterNFLJerry Jones kept talking about wanting a coach that would agree to an incentives based contract. But I argued the market pays otherwise 🤷🏼♀️then he said he didn’t want anyone who didn’t want to be here but I argued if someone doesn’t make you feel like you are wanted why would you?…
We don’t know the financial terms of what McCarthy was being offered, nor could it be argued that McCarthy should be paid like one of the top head coaches in the NFL, but he was successful during his tenure with a 49-35 record and three playoff appearances in five seasons.
Jones didn’t make things better by saying during Brian Schottenheimer’s introductory press conference as the new Cowboys head coach that it was “as big a risk as you can take.”
Schottenheimer was able to negotiate a four-year deal from Jones to get the job, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This will be the first head-coaching gig for Schottenheimer, who spent the past two seasons as Cowboys offensive coordinator. He began his coaching career in 1997 as an assistant with the St. Louis Rams.
The Cowboys will be hoping for a quick turnaround under Schottenheimer after a disappointing 7-10 record in 2024.
