Cowboys fans have Troy Aikman to thank if Mike McCarthy is back in 2025

While it was harmful to the Dallas Cowboys' draft position, fans are still on cloud nine following the team's rip-roaring victory over the Washington Commanders.

The playoffs are still a pipe dream, but a forgiving upcoming schedule has sparked conversation about whether Dallas can save its season. Even if they don't make the playoffs, things could get interesting if they finish on a high note.

Riding a wave of momentum, would Jerry Jones entertain the possibility of retaining Mike McCarthy? Jones was asked about that Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan and did not rule out an extension for the 61-year-old head coach.

While Jones has refused to fire McCarthy mid-season, he's dropped tidbits here and there that have seemed to foreshadow an unhappy ending. So, what prompted Jones to suddenly contemplate an extension for McCarthy?

Well ... Troy Aikman might be to blame. During ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast, Aikman showered McCarthy with praise while he and broadcast partner Joe Buck unpacked Dallas' win in Washington.

Troy Aikman might be to blame if Cowboys bring back Mike McCarthy

“You’ve heard me say it before, but Mike McCarthy is a hell of a football coach," Aikman said on the broadcast, via Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys official website.

While not a direct endorsement of McCarthy, this was a powerful statement from Aikman nonetheless. Monday Night Football is a national broadcast and this week's matchup was a doozy between the Harbaugh brothers. You can count that Aikman's message made its way to Jerry Jones, who has long valued Aikman's opinion on football matters.

In light of Aikman's remarks, it's not outlandish to think the Hall of Fame quarterback pitched the idea of the Cowboys keeping McCarthy.

Aikman also caught up with Sam Gannon of KDFW Fox 4 before kickoff and said he hopes that "McCarthy is back coaching this team."

Aikman has not hesitated to criticize the Cowboys this season. He called out the wide receiver's for running poor routes and has questioned the front office's decision to not pursue Derrick Henry in the offseason on more than one occasion, including Monday night.

If you take a step back, retaining McCarthy isn't the craziest idea. Since Jerry Jones isn't going to make an innovative hire like Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, keeping McCarthy, who has cultivated a winning culture, might be better than bringing in an experienced coach like Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel or Brian Flores.

Many Cowboys fans believe a complete reset is needed. While that might be true, McCarthy was set up to fail this season. That is undeniable. Maybe with a slight roster overhaul and better injury luck McCarthy can have Dallas back in contention in 2025.

We are admittedly grasping at straws, but this might be Aikman's line of thinking. The three-time Super Bowl champ is right. McCarthy is a really good football coach. It is very possible the Cowboys downgrade if they move on after this year.

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