Fired 4 Months Ago, Mike McCarthy Continues to Catch Strays From Cowboys as Jerry Jones Teases Trades Ahead of NFL Draft

After the Dallas Cowboys‘ 2023 season ended with a playoff heartbreak, billionaire owner Jerry Jones decided to give Mike McCarthy one more chance after a private sit-down. But then, the real disaster hit. With just 7 wins and 10 losses, the Cowboys didn’t even sniff the playoffs in 2024. Frustrated fans demanded change, and eventually, the McCarthy era was over after a five-year stint with America’s Team.

“I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure.” Jerry Jones said when announcing McCarthy’s exit back in January. To take over the reins, Jones turned to Brian Schottenheimer. Whether he can turn things around is anybody’s guess. But right now, one thing is crystal clear—Schottenheimer is already doing what McCarthy never did: building real relationships with his players.

At a new press conference, tight end Jake Ferguson couldn’t help but rave about the new head coach. According to DCLS Cowboys on X, the 26-year-old said, “You can tell he loves the game of football and he loves the guys he’s coaching.” Talking about the vibe under Schottenheimer, Jake added, “It’s awesome. To me, it’s all about relationships. And I don’t think I’ve ever had a head coach come down. Every single time I’m in the coach, I’ll be talking to myself.” Ferguson’s excitement was obvious.

From day one, Schottenheimer made it a point to connect with the players, something Ferguson had never experienced with McCarthy. And it mattered a lot. You can tell Ferguson feels Schottenheimer is truly in it for the guys he’s coaching, and that’s something he’s fully bought into. The Pro Bowl tight end even joked, “I’m happy as H-E-double hockey sticks go in there every single day.”

Looking back, McCarthy himself admitted in December that if he ever felt disconnected from the players or thought he wasn’t helping the team win, he’d step away. He said, “Where I am in my career, I’m fortunate enough to be in a place, and a space mentally and emotionally, where I can make that choice. But yeah, if I didn’t feel that I was connected [with the players] and putting us in the best position to win, then I would step aside.” Maybe, deep down, he knew that connection was already broken, and that’s why Jerry Jones pulled the plug. That’s also why Jake Ferguson’s words hit so hard.

Now, with a new chapter unfolding, Jerry Jones has his eyes locked on the upcoming NFL Draft. Big changes could be on the horizon. But before that, he has some other plans!

What is Jerry Jones looking for in this year ahead of the NFL draft?

Jerry Jones has got the Cowboys‘ fans buzzing. With the NFL Draft just days away, he teased reporters with talk of “pretty substantive trades.” He didn’t give much away, though, leaving everyone wondering. Jones, who has a net worth of $16.6 billion, said, “We’re looking at two things that could happen before or after the draft. Two pretty substantive trades. Been working on today.” That will be interesting to watch.

The Cowboys have a history of making moves during draft time, having made 72 trades since Jones took over. So, this time, it’s definitely not new. Dallas has already been busy this offseason, adding linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. and cornerback Kaiir Elam. They’ve still got over $37 million in cap space.

So, it remains to be seen who wins the heart of Jones this time. Until then, the owner is eyeing the 12th pick in the draft, and he’s loving the depth of this year’s class. His goal is to find a player who can make an immediate impact.