Cowboys: Jerry Jones' justification for bringing back Mike McCarthy
Moments after news broke on the Dallas Cowboys bringing back head coach Mike McCarthy for the 2024 NFL season, Jerry Jones released a statement on the controversial decision. Within the statement, which you can read in full at the bottom of this article, Jones lays out the logic of this decision with an unsurprising argument […]
Moments after news broke on the Dallas Cowboys bringing back head coach Mike McCarthy for the 2024 NFL season, Jerry Jones released a statement on the controversial decision.
Within the statement, which you can read in full at the bottom of this article, Jones lays out the logic of this decision with an unsurprising argument that is guaranteed to annoy a large portion of the fanbase.
"Mike has the highest regular season winning percentage of any head coach in Cowboys history and we will dedicate ourselves, in partnership with him, to translating that into reaching our post season goals," the statement reads. "Certainly, Mike’s career has demonstrated post season success at a high level, and we have great confidence that can continue."
There are two issues with such a claim. Firstly, no one is questioning the ability the Cowboys have had to win in the regular season. But McCarthy was brought to Dallas to take the next step. Although he has undeniably been an improvement over Jason Garrett, the postseason success simply has not been there.
And when that reaches the point that it did against the Green Bay Packers, who became the only one of eight seventh seeds in NFL history to win a playoff game (and they did it with a 27-0 start), you've got to wonder if the coach has what it takes to win in January these days.
I say "these days" specifically because Jones also points out to McCarthy's playoff success in Green Bay. But I'm not sure that holds up in court. The last time he won two postseason games? 2016. The year he won a Super Bowl in? 2010.
Not to mention, he did that with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, somebody who will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest of all time.
And the cherry on top: No Super Bowl winning head coach has ever won a ring with a second team. That's not to say it'll never happen but when it's the reason why you're bringing a coach back, it's not exactly great.
Are the Cowboys going to be proven right down the road? You know what, maybe. I wouldn't bet on it, but this is sports and weirder things have happened. But reading that argument is sure to upset some fans and you can't blame the people who have been waiting for almost 30 years for something to change.
Jerry Jones' full statement:
"I believe this team is very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals and the best step forward for us will be with Mike McCarthy as our head coach. There is great benefit to continuing the team’s progress under Mike’s leadership as our head coach. Specifically, there are many layers of success that have occurred this season as a result of Mike’s approach to leading the team, both with individual players and with our team collectively. Mike has the highest regular season winning percentage of any head coach in Cowboys history and we will dedicate ourselves, in partnership with him, to translating that into reaching our post season goals. Certainly, Mike’s career has demonstrated post season success at a high level, and we have great confidence that can continue.
“Further, our loss on Sunday is shared by everyone here, not just Coach McCarthy. Our players. Our coaches. Our front office. Myself. There is accountability for our results. I am accountable for our results. The lens we use to view and evaluate Coach McCarthy is holistic. While we’re all disappointed with the result on Sunday and with our playoff record, I am 100 percent supportive of him as our head coach and ability to reach our goals.
“We will start our process of review and decision making regarding everything that impacts our team and roster and, while we’re not going to address specific players and extensions or free agents at this point, it deserves our deepest review and consideration, and it will get it."
