Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek some of the writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the BTB Roundtable. This week we have Dan Rogers, Tom Ryle, Dave Howman, Jess Haynie, RJ Ochoa, Brian Martin and Matt Holleran.
Is the Mike McCarthy hot seat justifiable, and how does it affect this final year of his contract?
The Dallas Cowboys brought on board ex-Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy ahead of the 2020 season. Over the past four seasons, McCarthy has accumulated a 42-25 regular-season record, along with a 1-3 record in the postseason. While the regular-season performance appears impressive, the disappointments in the postseason are hard to ignore. The team’s 48-32 wild card defeat to the Packers at the conclusion of the 2023 season serves as yet another illustration of this.
The seat has been described as hot for McCarthy, who enters 2024 on the final year of his deal, basically coaching for his job. We want to find out how justifiable is that hot seat and what it means for the 2024 season. He will watch his new roster kick off the regular season in Cleveland against the Browns on September 8th.
Tom: I think a hot seat is justifiable, or maybe just an acknowledgement of the reality of his situation. He’s in the final year of his contract with an owner who will put all the consequences of not making a deep run on the head coach. That makes it pretty hot.
Howman: I actually think McCarthy feels good about where he’s at right now. He had a hand in fleshing out the team’s analytics department last offseason, has full control of the offense, and just hired super agent Don Yee. That’s not something you do if you think you’re about to get fired. Being the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys means you’re always on the hot seat, but I think it would take a colossal collapse this year for McCarthy to actually get the boot
Jess: If he’s truly coaching for his life this year, McCarthy can’t be thrilled with the Cowboys’ minimalist approach to the offseason. Going from Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz to two rookies, plus their decisions at RB, will likely weaken his side of the ball. Bringing in an experienced former head coach with deep franchise roots in Mike Zimmer can’t feel too good, either. Perhaps he’s been given behind-the-scenes reassurance, but nothing would say it better than having already extended his contract. McCarthy can’t be too mad about it given last year’s playoff flop, but you know there has to be tension given the shaky ground he’s now on.
RJ: On the one hand it feels absurd to me to suggest that Mike McCarthy is on the hot seat given all that he has accomplished (relatively speaking) for this team. The Cowboys are a legitimate contender and while they have no postseason success to show for that, there is certainly a conversation to be had about how impressive it has been. But the playoff loss left a very sour taste in all of our mouths and given that we are only in July we have yet to have an opportunity to get rid of it. This is not a normal team and therefore normal expectations should not be had, but I’d reckon that Mike is back in 2025 barring complete and total collapse.
Brian:ÂThe writing is already on the wall that this is likely McCarthy’s last season as the Cowboys HC. He was hired with the purpose to get them over the playoff hump and has failed to so. And, his seat is so hot right he may not make it through Dallas’ bye week in Week 7 if the team doesn’t get off to a good start this season.
Matt:ÂMike McCarthy should not be on the hot seat. McCarthy has led the Cowboys to three-straight 12 win seasons and has headed a Cowboys’ offense that has consistently been one of the best units in football. Sure, the Cowboys have had a couple of disappointing playoff exits, but McCarthy should not shoulder all of the blame. Finding a coach that can consistently build a double-digit winner in the NFL is not easy, and McCarthy has done just that. Despite this, the outside speculation will certainly affect him in the final year of his contract. If Dallas starts off slow, McCarthy’s seat will get even hotter. As unfair as it may be, unless the Cowboys make the NFC Championship Game McCarthy will remain on the hot seat.
