Despite the Dallas Cowboys having home-field advantage and the best offense in the first two rounds, their stunning 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers has shifted attention to head coach Mike McCarthy’s playoff failures, potentially jeopardizing his tenure in Dallas.
Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett observed the defeat and hinted at impending changes in the team’s structure. Garrett stated, “They’re going to have some internal discussions. What changes do we need to make? I don’t know what those are, but something’s coming.”
On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith weighed in on why he believes McCarthy “has to go” after a first-round elimination. Smith emphasized that it’s not just about the regular-season success but also the postseason disappointments. He pointed out the expectations for better performance in the playoffs, the age of team owner Jerry Jones (81 years), and the four-year failure to meet the mandate established when McCarthy took the job.
McCarthy, with a 42-25 record in four seasons with the Cowboys, has achieved three consecutive 12-win seasons but holds a 1-3 playoff record. With one year remaining on his contract, it appears unlikely that McCarthy will survive the offseason, especially considering high-profile coaching changes like Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, and Mike Vrabel.
“It’s not just about the 12 wins during the regular season and then you wet the bed in the postseason,” Smith said. “It’s about the fact that Jerry Jones is 81 years of age. It’s about the fact that when you look at the personnel on the Dallas Cowboys, we expect better come postseason time. It’s about the mandate that you took the job knowing that the mandate existed, and you failed to live up to it for four years.”
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The wildcard in the coaching landscape could be Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, expected to explore NFL opportunities after leading the Wolverines to a national championship.
However, the unpredictable nature of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones adds uncertainty to the situation. Jones has a reputation for surprising moves, making it challenging to predict the team’s coaching decisions until officially announced.
