Jerry Jones wants Mike McCarthy to coach Cowboys for 26 more years until he turns 85, gets big news about another coach's future
Mike McCarthy's future as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys was reportedly uncertain after the team's 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in their NFC divisional round game last Sunday.
Reports claimed that Sean Payton could be on his way to Dallas, but those suggestions were laid to rest during McCarthy's end-of-season debrief with the media on Thursday. According to the Cowboys head coach, owner Jerry Jones wants him to emulate Tom Landry, who was the team's head coach from 1960 until 1988.
Mike McCarthy said Jerry Jones told him this week that he wants McCarthy to coach the Cowboys as long as Tom Landry did. “I said, ‘OK, that’s a long time.’”
The 2022 season was McCarthy's third with the Cowboys. He'll have to coach the Cowboys until 2048 to emulate Landry. McCarthy will be 85 by the time he matches Landry's tenure of 29 seasons as the head coach of the Cowboys.
Tom Landry (21 seasons)
Most consecutive seasons by an NFL head coach without a losing season at any point in their career:
🏈 Tom Landry (21 seasons)
🏈 Bill Belichick (19 seasons)
🏈 George Halas (16 seasons)
🏈 Mike Tomlin (15 seasons) https://t.co/V5HZCIXfCS
Jones likely meant that he wanted McCarthy to spend the rest of his NFL coaching career with Dallas. However, there's a slim possibility that the Cowboys owner and general manager is serious about wanting to keep the head coach for another two-and-a-half decades.
Mike McCarthy confirms Dan Quinn staying put in Dallas
Another Cowboys coach whose future with the team was uncertain was defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. The former Atlanta Falcons head coach was expected to receive plenty of interest from teams looking for a new head coach, but he has decided to stick with the Cowboys to help them in their quest for a Super Bowl.
Mike McCarthy told reporters:
“We’re all extremely excited to have Dan back. This is big for us. It gives us continuity. Frankly, on a personal note, I can’t tell you how thankful I am. Clearly, Dan is in the position to be selective, and I’m extremely excited about the decision.”
The Cowboys have gone 12-5 in the last two seasons, but succumbed in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers on both occasions. Their Super Bowl drought is closing in on three decades, but owner Jerry Jones has faith that Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn can help end that seemingly eternal wait.