Jason Garrett, former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, recently offered a warning to Mike McCarthy about his future with the team. “The last games are critical” Having spent 10 years coaching the Cowboys, Garrett developed a deep understanding of Jerry Jones, the team’s owner. Garrett, who remains the second-most successful coach in franchise history with 85 wins, knows how Jones operates and believes McCarthy should be cautious as he faces crucial decisions about his job.
Garrett’s tenure with the Cowboys ended in 2019 when Jones opted not to renew his contract after a season where the team finished with an 8-8 record. Despite three consecutive winning seasons under Garrett, Jones decided to part ways, bringing in McCarthy to take over. Fast forward five years, and Garrett sees the situation repeating itself, with McCarthy’s future hanging in the balance.
During an appearance on SNF on NBC, Garrett discussed how Jones may approach McCarthy’s future, noting that Jones had not yet made a decision. He speculated that Jones would assess McCarthy’s performance over the last three games of the season before making a final choice. Garrett pointed out that there had been expectations for McCarthy’s future to depend on playoff success, but with a 6-8 record and no playoff appearance in sight, McCarthy’s position was becoming uncertain.
Garrett emphasized that the remaining three games were critical for McCarthy. He suggested that if McCarthy could lead the Cowboys to a strong finish, perhaps winning all three games to finish with a 9-8 record, it could improve his chances of staying. A strong finish could potentially convince Jones to keep McCarthy around for another season.
However, Garrett warned that a poor finish could be detrimental. If the Cowboys were to lose all three games and finish with a 6-11 record, it would make it much harder for McCarthy to keep his job. Garrett’s experience with Jones indicated that the owner was not afraid to make tough decisions when a team failed to meet expectations, especially with a losing record.
Garrett’s situation mirrors McCarthy’s to an extent. Garrett left after an 8-8 season, which, in the current 17-game format, would translate to a 9-8 record. McCarthy, entering the final year of his contract, could find himself in a similar position, with Jones possibly choosing to move on and start a new chapter with a new coach.
Given the importance of the final stretch of the season, McCarthy’s future is far from secure. If the Cowboys falter and finish poorly, the possibility of a coaching change seems more likely. With Super Bowl aspirations still unfulfilled, Jones might decide it’s time to rebuild and pursue a fresh path to success.
