The Cowboys’ season came to a frustrating close with a 19-23 loss to Washington, cementing a 7-10 record. Sure, considering they were 3-7 at one point, finishing with seven wins feels like a small win. Especially, after Jerry Jones was endorsing those three wins… But for a franchise like Dallas, ‘fine‘ isn’t the goal—it’s Super Bowl or bust. And now, the spotlight shifts to the team’s future, starting with HC Mike McCarthy.

McCarthy is standing firm on his contributions. In his post-game press conference, he described himself as a “builder” and, when pressed further, summed up his value in three words: “I’m a winner.” Whether that confidence convinces Jones—or the fans—remains to be seen, as he added, “I have a lot of confidence in myself as a head coach. But, you know, I think like anything, body of work and all of the statistics, I think it’s more about the program, the details of what needs to be done, how can we get better.”

For a team desperate to return to its glory days, the offseason promises to be anything but quiet. But the Cowboys must deal with the McCarthy saga first, and pronto because it has the potential of tipping out of hands.

When asked about McCarthy potentially interviewing with other teams, Jones didn’t flinch. “I want to work with people who want to be here,” he said. That’s a bold statement from a man who also made it clear he’s not stepping down as the team’s general manager.

Jones is doubling down on his vision for Dallas, but does that vision still include McCarthy at the helm? For now, it seems like a waiting game… Not to Mike.

Does Mike McCarthy decide his own future?

The Cowboys’ season finale—a 23-19 loss to Washington—left more questions than answers. Mike McCarthy says he “absolutely” wants to return as head coach, but here’s the twist: Jerry Jones hasn’t exactly sealed the deal. Sure, Jones praised McCarthy, saying he’s “done absolutely nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach.”

But when it came to definitively backing him for another season? Jones went radio silent. Let’s talk numbers. McCarthy’s resume includes a Super Bowl win (remember that iconic 2010 run with the Packers?) and a solid 174-112-2 career record. Even in Dallas, he’s 83-50 overall.

But this year’s 7-10 stumble, with injuries sidelining stars like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons missing games, put the spotlight on deeper issues. And Cowboys fans? Let’s just say they’re not exactly thrilled about the team’s decades-long struggle to break past the divisional round.

McCarthy’s confidence isn’t wavering. “I have a lot invested here, and the Cowboys have a lot invested in me,” he said. He’s banking on his program-building chops to steer Dallas back into contention. And Jones? He’s holding his cards close, saying decisions about extensions will unfold in the coming days and weeks.

So, where does that leave us? Honestly, nowhere! Stuck in neutral… McCarthy believes the Cowboys have the foundation for a turnaround. But let’s be real—Dallas is growing impatient. Finish this saga so that the team can address more peculiar problems ahead of the 2025 season.