The Dallas Cowboys are officially expected to move on from Head Coach Mike McCarthy after five seasons and three playoff appearances with the team.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported that the two sides began negotiations on a new contract, but these discussions fell apart after an agreement could not be reached regarding the length of a potential deal.
McCarthy will leave Dallas with a regular season record of 49-35 while leading the team to two NFC East division championships.
The five-year contract signed by McCarthy in 2018 will conclude on Tuesday, allowing both sides to pursue other options despite previous reports that negotiations began last week.
Previous reports indicated that the two sides “remain open to moving forward together” and began to discuss an extension last week, meaning these discussions quickly broke down after just days.
These reports came after Dallas denied the Chicago Bears’ request to interview McCarthy for an opening.
Now that he is a free agent, McCarthy is expected to become a top candidate for the Bears.
Neither the Cowboys nor McCarthy have released an official statement regarding the news, but both will likely begin to pursue other opportunities as soon as possible.
McCarthy’s departure creates an interesting job opening for the Cowboys’ head coach position, with one head coaching candidate standing out as a potential target for America’s Team.
While many may point to the most coveted coaching options during the offseason, such as Detroit Lions’ coordinators Ben Johnson or Aaron Glenn, the most likely outcome is Dallas opting for a more experienced coach.
One of the most discussed possibilities is for the Cowboys to pursue a reunion with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Moore spent five seasons with the Cowboys as both the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator between 2018 and 2022 and one season as a player in 2015, meaning he is familiar with the franchise and could be a prime candidate for the role.