Are Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy a Super Bowl combo?

With the hiring of head coach Mike McCarthy, the Dallas Cowboys are obviously hoping him and quarterback Dak Prescott will be the next Super Bowl combo.

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson. Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. Those are just a few of the head coach and quarterback combos to win a Super Bowl in the past decade. Will the Dallas Cowboys duo of McCarthy and Dak Prescott be next?

The Cowboys organization surely hopes so. But in order to give this duo their best chance for success, the organization has to get Prescott under contract and quickly. The former 2016 fourth-rounder is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month.

Reports indicate that Dallas and their now fifth-year quarterback are at an impasse when it comes to contract negotiations. And that the Cowboys are likely to use their franchise tag in order to retain the 26-year old passer.

If the two sides aren’t able to find a compromise soon, there’s a chance Prescott opts not to report to the team’s offseason training program. And that could certainly impact the results of the upcoming season with a new coaching staff in Dallas.

Based on his past work with legendary quarterbacks like Joe Montana, Brett Favre, and Rodgers; the presence of McCarthy figures to benefit Prescott the most. In fact, according to one league insider, the Cowboys’ new combination of head coach and quarterback has the potential to be a championship duo.

Adam Schein, NFL.com Columnist, recently ranked the Cowboys’ fifth on his NFL’s biggest Super Bowl window list that appeared on the league’s official website Tuesday. Here’s what Schein had to say about the head coach/quarterback combo …

"“Mike McCarthy changes everything for Dallas. That was a coup of a hire. He’s a Super Bowl champ and an offensive guru. This is a major upgrade over Jason Garrett. McCarthy and Prescott comprise the kind of coach-quarterback tandem that can carry a franchise to years of contention. It’s in everyone’s best interest to make this marriage official.”"

Prescott is coming off his best season as a professional, posting career-highs in passing yards (4,902), average yards per reception (8.2), and touchdowns (30). Unfortunately, those improved stats didn’t equate to more wins as the Cowboys finished with a disappointing 8-8 record in 2019.

Prescott also failed to perform when the team needed him the most in a Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles that could have secured the Cowboys the NFC East championship and a playoff berth. He completing just 25 of his 44 passes  (56.8 percent) in the contest, throwing for 265 yards and no touchdowns. Dallas would lose in Philly, 17-9.

Don’t get it twisted. Despite Dak Prescott putting up career-numbers in 2019, his game is far from elite. Hopefully, the experience of new head coach Mike McCarthy will be exactly what Prescott needs to take the next step. To become a quarterback who is actually able to lift the Dallas Cowboys on his shoulders and carry them to victories when needed. If so, the next Super Bowl coach and quarterback combo could be in Dallas.