The pressure is on in Dallas as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made it clear that playoff performance will be the determining factor for contract extensions, including for head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy, who has mapped out an ambitious 21-game plan for the season, faces a pivotal moment in his tenure, as he aims to secure a sixth season with the Cowboys.
Last season’s 48-32 playoff defeat to the Green Bay Packers was a bitter pill for the Cowboys to swallow. Despite achieving an impressive third consecutive 12-win regular season—a feat the franchise hasn’t accomplished since the 1990s—the loss raised serious questions about the team’s trajectory. Surprisingly, Jones chose not to fire McCarthy but also refrained from extending his contract, a decision that has heightened the stakes for the upcoming season.
Jerry Jones turns up heat on Mike McCarthy, Cowboys https://t.co/g3qU0kUwx3
— Opening Day Game (@OpeningDayNFL) September 3, 2024
McCarthy isn’t the only one under scrutiny; the entire coaching staff and more than 30 players, including quarterback Dak Prescott, are also in the final year of their contracts. Jones has been candid about the importance of the upcoming season, pointing to the Green Bay loss as a catalyst for intense internal discussions. He believes that the pressure of being in a contract year could bring out the best in everyone involved.
Jerry Jones has turned up the Super Bowl-or-bust heat on Mike McCarthy and Dallas Cowboys in 2024 – DLLS Sports https://t.co/XCFACW7ekL
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) September 3, 2024
A Make-or-Break Season for the Cowboys
McCarthy has acknowledged the challenges of coaching without job security, but Jones sees it differently. He believes that the pressure of contract uncertainty could serve as a powerful motivator. “I don’t know that there’s any more urgency, but I have tried to look at places that we are complacent or ways not to be complacent,” Jones explained. He emphasized his efforts to avoid any organizational complacency, seeking to maintain a high level of performance across the board.
The disappointment following the Green Bay game has not only frustrated fans but also fueled calls for change within the organization. While Jones has resisted making sweeping personnel changes, he has made it clear that expectations have been raised significantly. “I didn’t make many changes. But within the realm of not making changes, totally changing people out, I tried to turn up the heat on myself and everybody involved,” he stated.
As the Cowboys enter this crucial season, the message from Jerry Jones is unmistakable: only a strong playoff performance will secure the futures of McCarthy and his staff. The pressure is on, and the entire organization must rise to the challenge if they hope to remain in Dallas.
