FRISCO, Texas – Mike McCarthy creates different themes for each Dallas Cowboys season. In 2023, its name is Carpe Omnia, which is Latin for the taking over of everything.
With owner and general manager Jerry Jones returning for McCarthy for a fifth season, the head coach may not have to think too much about 2024.
What does “all or nothing” look like?
McCarthy signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys in 2020, and there was no word on what kind of extension would be agreed upon when the coach met with Jones on Wednesday.
Add to that that quarterback Dak Prescott will also be entering the final year of his contract with the Cowboys, and it's shaping up as all or nothing.
The Cowboys have time to work on an extension for Prescott between now and the start of the season, but he is set to count $59.4 million against the salary cap. Without an extension or adding voidable years to Prescott's contract, it will be difficult for the Cowboys to add free agents or retain their key players. But Prescott has been eight years as a starter and has a 2-5 postseason record without an appearance in the conference title game.
The Cowboys will have to weigh the importance of signing him to a deal that would make him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the game — in the neighborhood of $50 million annually — without proven success in the playoffs, while also knowing that they can't put the franchise tag on him. In 2025.
There are other questions to consider with McCarthy's return:
Why keep McCarthy?
He has a record of 42-25. He has won two NFC East titles in the past three seasons. With McCarthy called up to play this season for the first time during his tenure with the Cowboys, Prescott responded with his best campaign, leading the NFL in touchdown passes (36) a year after he tied for the lead in interceptions (15) despite missing five games. . With a broken thumb.
The Cowboys made the playoffs in three straight seasons, which they had not done in six years from 1991-96 that included victories in Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX. McCarthy became the first coach in team history to record three straight 12-win seasons, though some of that was due to playing a 17-game schedule. With McCarthy as the play-caller in 2023, the Cowboys rank first in points per game (29.9) and fifth in yards (371.6).
However, ultimately, McCarthy will be judged on his success in the postseason. So far, they have lost in the first round of the playoffs twice — both at AT&T Stadium — including Sunday's 48-32 embarrassment to the Green Bay Packers.
Was there any consideration for making the change?
If he was there, he remained quiet. Jones could have made overtures to Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls before parting ways with the New England Patriots, or Jim Harbaugh, who had just won a national championship at Michigan and led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl. Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel could have been another option to consider.
As much of a daredevil and risk-taker as Jones is, he hasn't made a big move since trading in the first round to take cornerback Maurice Claiborne and signing cornerback Brandon Carr to a blockbuster deal in free agency in 2012.
Jones turns 82 next season. He wants to win another championship. To think he would have stepped into the role of an up-and-coming offensive coach, like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, would be a stretch. He can't wait for the young coach to learn the rules of the game. He did it with Jason Garrett.
What about the rest of the coaching staff?
Dan Quinn is interviewing five teams (Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks) for head coaching vacancies, so the Cowboys could be looking for a defensive coordinator within days or weeks.
Do the Cowboys have someone on staff ready to become the coordinator, like Joe Witt Jr., who has been the defensive passing game coordinator since 2020, defensive line coach Aden Durdy or secondary coach Al Harris?
Could an outside coordinator be an option, like Wink Martindale, who spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants?
The only other unsigned coach is wide receivers coach Robert Prince. Every other coach is signed through 2024, which is consistent with McCarthy's original deal.
Another sign that 2024 is all or nothing.
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