Report: No negotiations still between Cowboys, Mike McCarthy, could become free agent

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According to reports, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy are on track for him to become a coaching free agent.

It has been over a week since the season ended for the Dallas Cowboys which means they are over a week into the offseason. Despite this being the case, they have moved neither forward nor backwards as an organization.

Every day since the season ended has brought with it reports about this, that or the other relative to the team and their head coach. You are undoubtedly well aware that Mike McCarthy’s current deal with the team expires on Tuesday, coincidentally the one-year anniversary of last season’s playoff loss, and once it does he is free to negotiate with any team that he wishes.

To be clear, as an employee under contract McCarthy is not allowed to speak to other teams who want to talk to him about becoming their head coach. It is for this reason that the Chicago Bears had to request to interview him last week, something the Cowboys denied after waiting over 24 hours to respond.

Monday morning brought with it some news about McCarthy’s current contract and a reminder of what Jerry Jones said about a potential incentive-based contract for a head coach. Shortly after that, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that McCarthy and the Cowboys still haven’t had any negotiations on a new deal and that a divorce (an amicable one from a contract standpoint) appears imminent.

With Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy eligible to talk to other teams after midnight Tuesday, there still haven’t been any negotiations on a new deal with Dallas, per sources. It’s now looking like McCarthy will indeed become a coaching free agent, with Chicago and New Orleans both… pic.twitter.com/Hi9BSAgQSP

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2025

As noted the Bears have formally requested an interview with McCarthy already, but they are the only team to do so. Schefter mentioning the New Orleans Saints is the first time that they have been connected to him in this serious of a capacity which suggests there will be at least two teams wanting to talk to McCarthy should things reach that point. Consider that Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football noted he expects the Saints to be very interested. McCarthy has a history with New Orleans so all of that tracks.

It is possible that this whole thing is being done for maximum attention which would be a very Dallas Cowboys thing clearly. On the other hand, it is also possible that the Cowboys and/or McCarthy each have points that they are sticking to, and it’s hard to say given the conflicting reports about the amount of negotiations taking place. Another perspective that PFT offered was that there have been “no negotiations” because the Cowboys maybe made a non-negotiable offer.

Whatever you believe something that feels objectively difficult to deny is that the Cowboys will have really set themselves back relative to the field if they do wind up letting McCarthy walk. Consider that the New England Patriots fired Jerod Mayo, conducted a head coaching search (literally speaking, clearly it wasn’t an expansive one) and hired Mike Vrabel all in the time that Dallas has been dragging their feet. It is akin to letting the wide receiver or quarterback markets balloon while knowing full well that deals were going to have to happen for the Cowboys’ own players, yet they let it all happen.

What is your prediction for how this all shakes out?