The Dallas Cowboys choked? No way. Mike McCarthy looked like a buffoon? No way. Dak Prescott came up small on a big stage? No way! The quarterback who’s never made it past the Divisional Round, you’re telling me, didn’t rise to the occasion on Wild Card Weekend? Color me absolutely shocked.
Oh wait…I wasn’t.
Tonight is a win pic.twitter.com/uBtkINEGdY
— Matt Fitzgerald (@MattFitz_gerald) January 15, 2024
#PACKERS WIN & ADVANCE!#GBvsDAL | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/SEoVRadT9A
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 15, 2024
I wouldn’t normally say an NFL head coach was on the chopping block after posting three straight 12-win seasons. It’s just that, the Cowboys are the most valuable major sports professional franchise in North America, and continue to blow it when it matters most. Something’s gotta change. Is it the quarterback? No. Dak played like an MVP this year, or so I was told. Then it must be Mike McCarthy.
You could tell Dallas owner Jerry Jones was none too pleased after seeing his squad get curb stomped 48-32 on their own field by Jordan Love and the Packers in a game that was not nearly as close as the scoreboard would indicate.
"This seems like the most painful [playoff loss] because we all had such great expectation and we had hope for this team."
– Cowboys owner Jerry Jones following loss to Packers pic.twitter.com/NbTOpkbaju
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 15, 2024
If ever there were an ominous warning shot from Jones, this was it. Schefty doesn’t just put BS out there for no reason, either. Check out what he had to say after this one, Mr. Big J Journalism Objective Reporter type:
Throughout this season, sources believed Cowboys’ HC Mike McCarthy always would be judged by how Dallas’ last game of the season went.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2024
I mean…to say that doesn’t bode well for Mike McCarthy may be the understatement of the 21st century thus far. Dak did his best to fall on the sword and support his head coach.
"He's been amazing… I understand it's about winning the Super Bowl… so I get it, but add me to the list in that case."
– Dak Prescott on speculation about Mike McCarthy's job security pic.twitter.com/OTkVY7jvbc
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 15, 2024
I just…I don’t see it. How do you bring Milquetoast McCarthy back for one last ride? Especially if he loses his top-flight defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to a head coaching job? Quinn got cooked by Matt LaFleur today, but that’s beside the point I’m trying to make here.
McCarthy got outclassed as a seven-point favorite at home in the postseason. He hasn’t led the Cowboys to an NFC Championship Game in three seasons at the helm. They had plenty of talent to get there. It just didn’t happen.
Therefore, it’s no surprise to see the court of public opinion wanting to see McCarthy file into the guillotine queue.
I really enjoy Greg Olsen on TV but I couldn’t disagree with him more on Mike McCarthy.
I do not anticipate teams “jumping over themselves” to hire him if he gets fired. #Cowboys
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 15, 2024
Mike McCarthy is HILARIOUSLY BAD
there have been 6 second downs
5 RUN PLAYS
8 TOTAL YARDS
EIGHT!!! YARDS ON 5 PLAYS!
1.6 YPC
meanwhile, the 1 pass gained 22 yards
can Jerry fire him at halftime?
this is an epic disaster https://t.co/EQazA5Q1FL
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 14, 2024
Bill Belichick on his way to Dallas to replace Mike McCarthy after this game pic.twitter.com/qpGalN8I36
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 14, 2024
Fire McCarthy, hire Belichick @dallascowboys
— Hank Lockwood (@hen_ease) January 14, 2024
Sports media can be a tough job. There is so much to follow and so many good analysts. It’s easy to feel like a poser.
And then I remember that Mike McCarthy told the Cowboys he watched every play from the entire NFL season, got the job, and said “lmao I didn’t do that.”
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 14, 2024
Bill Belichick in McCarthy kitchen tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/fQhs6q9O5P
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) January 14, 2024
Mike McCarthy watching Jason Garrett talk about him potentially getting fired after coming up short in the playoffs yet again pic.twitter.com/jcxIuHwwUn
— Clem (@TheClemReport) January 15, 2024
Jerry Jones to Mike McCarthy in about 25 minutes pic.twitter.com/AAfTVR8FjN
— Fitz (@FitzGSN_) January 15, 2024
Jerry Jones firing Mike McCarthy in real time at the end of this clip pic.twitter.com/dJi7uPMFoU
— Stuart Feiner (@StuartFeiner) January 14, 2024
Jerry Jones escorting Mike McCarthy out of the Cowboys stadium after the Packers game. pic.twitter.com/8H91tq30FB
— In My Mind (@MeAloneInMyMind) January 15, 2024
"I think he gets replaced"
—@ColinCowherd on Mike McCarthy's future in Dallas pic.twitter.com/87OCO0wKFS
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 15, 2024
Dak Prescott: "If Mike McCarthy’s on the hot seat, I should be, too."
Cowboys fans: pic.twitter.com/q6afwESxfP
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) January 15, 2024
Look out. Jerry Jones is notoriously “in the family” and conservative when it comes to his hiring practices. He stuck with Jason Garrett to a fault. I feel like, to be candid, McCarthy probably deserves one more year. Then again, to get so thoroughly outclassed by the last team to make it into the playoffs makes it a tougher sell to the fan base. On top of all that, it’s a historically great head coaching cycle this offseason. We’ve got Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Vrabel and possibly even Pete Carroll available to take the reins in Big D.
I don’t know which one of those guys would want the Cowboys job. Belichick makes more sense in Philly to me (assuming the Eagles lose in Tampa on Monday). Harbaugh could very well return to the West Coast and coach up Justin Herbert with the Chargers. Carroll has a post in the Seahawks’ front office for now, so who knows what his deal is. Vrabel is a true wild card who could bring Arthur Smith with him as offensive coordinator. Fascinating to ponder all these possible McCarthy replacements. I think he’s gone. We shall see.

Maybe Jerry should get Jimmy Johnson back on the sidelines:
If Jerry Jones could, he might’ve fired Mike McCarthy and replaced him with Jimmy Johnson at halftime…pic.twitter.com/snkNwz4zi3
— Moe Moton (@MoeMoton) January 14, 2024





