Jerry Jones could not have asked for a more perfect ending to the 2024 season. The Dallas Cowboys fought hard against a playoff-bound team and lost in the final seconds. Showing fight in a losing effort so as to not harm their draft position is the best-case scenario.
Mike McCarthy was absolutely coaching to win, but the Cowboys' performance regardless of the result should bode well for McCarthy while Jones evaluates his future.
While Jones said earlier this week that he already made a decision on McCarthy, whose contract expires Jan. 14, he also hinted that he is prepared to drag out the evaluation process. Sure enough, that is exactly what Jones is going to do.
The 82-year-old told the Dallas media after Sunday's finale that he has not made a decision on McCarthy's future, but that isn't all.
Jerry Jones confirms Cowboys fans' worst fears after Week 18 loss
In addition to dragging his feet with McCarthy, Jones will not relinquish the general manager title, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has not made a decision on the future of the team’s head coaching position. When asked about the possibility of other team’s wanting to interview Mike McCarthy, Jones said he’s fine with that. He said he wants to work with people who want to be here.…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 5, 2025
No question about it, these are the absolute worse-case scenarios for the Cowboys. While it was wishful thinking that Jones would step down as general manager, the NFL's premier franchises would want to get a move on with a head coach conundrum at the earliest convenience.
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If Jones wants McCarthy back, just rip the band-aid off. It is not going to be received well on a national scale, but that shouldn't matter. Doing so would at least provide some alignment for the offseason. Remember, the entire coaching staff is on an expiring contract.
Jones' decision on McCarthy will have a trickle down effect on defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Al Harris and special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel, who are some of the best assistants the NFL has to offer.
If Jones doesn't want McCarthy back, does that set the stage for most of the staff to follow McCarthy out the door?
Regardless, Sunday's loss had no bearing on Jones' decision. His mind is absolutely already made up. For whatever reason - probably to steal some headlines during the first week of the NFL playoffs and the College Football Playoff Semifinals - he refuses to make it public.
In doing so, Jones is delaying the start of Dallas' offseason. It is why so many Cowboys fans claim winning is not his main priority. He is also doing McCarthy a huge disservice, as it prohibits him from taking interviews with other teams.
The Cowboys have been eliminated from playoff contention for weeks. There is no reason Jones' decision should drag beyond the Week 18 finale. It is not surprising, but it confirms that it is totally for attention.
Because that's all it is ever about with Jones.