Mike McCarthy‘s time as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys organization could be coming to a close after they slumped to a 47-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions on their home turf, so who could replace the 60-year-old at the helm of America’s Team?
The Cowboys lost all of the quarters at the AT&T Stadium on October 13 and failed to score a single touchdown whilst the Lions scored 10 or more points in the second, third and fourth quarters to leave Dak Prescott‘s side utterly embarrassed.
The blowout took place in front of the eyes of the owner, Jerry Jones, who was trying to celebrate his birthday and leaves his franchise with a 3-3 record in the NFC East and without a victory at the AT&T all season so could time be up for McCarthy?
And perhaps a worrying omen for McCarthy is that this was the Cowboys’ biggest lost in terms of points conceded since the 2020 Covid-19 season when they were beaten 49-38 and cost Wade Phillips his job, only this time the offense had no life either.
Prescott, the $240m quarterback, was successfully pressured over 20 times, sacked four times and hit over 10 times whilst he only manage to throw for 178 yards at a completion rate of 51.5%, numbers that would find even a rookie firmly on the bench.
Elsewhere, the team’s $136m wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, was also ineffective and only managed to make seven receptions for 89 yards and no touchdowns as he found himself doubled-up on once again.
So Jones has backed McCarthy with serious money over the NFL offseason and what he’s got in return is a declining side losing touch to the Washington Commanders in the NFC East, and now they’re not even putting points on the board. So will he be fired?
Who could the Cowboys hire?
If he’s fired, it would come sharply after the New York Jets axed Robert Saleh on October 8 meaning both could quickly begin competing for the services of Bill Belichick, who has been on the market since the end of 2023.
The six-time Super Bowl champion, as a head coach, dominated the NFL with the New England Patriots in the 2000s and 2010s and is currently working as an analyst but he is still registered as an active coach and is open for negotiations.
And with 333 victories to his name as well as all the Super Bowl success he enjoyed alongside Tom Brady, if anyone knows anything about winning then it’s Belichick.
Other names could also include Mike Zimmer, who previously was interim head at the Minnesota Vikings, and John Fassel, who is currently the specials team coordinator within the Cowboys.
