NFL world reacts to shocking decision on Cowboys coach

The Dallas Cowboys are at an important crossroads. Dallas finished the season 7-10 and failed to reach the playoffs.

Although a lot of the blame for the Cowboys’ failures this season can be placed on numerous critical injuries to its star players, including a season-ending hamstring injury to star quarterback Dak Prescott, many felt that head coach Mike McCarthy was also to blame for the way the year unfolded. Many fans expected team owner Jerry Jones to move on and find a new coach heading into next season.

Shockingly, Jones and the Cowboys have made a move that seems to indicate McCarthy will be back in Dallas next season. According to one prominent league insider, Dallas decided not to let McCarthy interview for the Chicago Bears head coaching vacancy, likely hinting that Dallas intends to keep McCarthy employed.

“ESPN Source: The Dallas Cowboys denied permission to the Chicago Bears to interview their head coach Mike McCarthy,” reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

ESPN Source: The Dallas Cowboys denied permission to the Chicago Bears to interview their head coach Mike McCarthy.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2025

Fans reacted to Dallas’ decision on social media.

People were interested in these podcasts

Play Episode

55min

The Play-By-Play

Kendrick Perkins and NIL, ESPN NBA broadcasters, World Cup rights competition

Kendrick Perkins' NIL company taking advantage of high school athletes? ESPN announces their NBA broadcasters but don't announce specific teams. Fox expected to get some competition for World Cup rights. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:05: ESPN 2024-25 NBA broadcaster announcement-21:31: Dan Murphy’s article on Kendrick Perkins’ NIL company-33:40: Feedback from last week’s NFL broadcasters draft-44:17: FIFA World Cup rights-49:22: TBS baseball scorebugYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Play-By-Play

Stephen A. Smith’s new ESPN contract, TGL talk, what replaces 'Around the Horn?'

Stephen A. Smith and ESPN finally have a deal and the TGL is entering the playoffs in their first season. Awful Announcing's Brandon Contes and Drew Lerner join Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen to discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:01: Stephen A. Smith’s new ESPN contract with Brandon Contes-32:23 TGL entering playoffs with Drew Lerner-50:33: What should replace “Around the Horn?”-58:33 Giving up X posting for Lent updateYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Play-By-Play

The Play-By-Play Live: Adrian Wojnarowski retires

Adrian Wojnarowski make the shocking decision to retire as ESPN's NBA insider to become GM of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team. Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the ultimate Woj bomb and what the future may hold for other NBA insiders on this live bonus episode of The Play-By-Play.You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hkAwful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncingAwful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncingAwful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcingAwful Announcing on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/awfulannouncing.bsky.socialAwful Announcing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/awfulannouncing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Play-By-Play

ESPN and MLB split, Jay Caspian Kang joins for Stephen A. Smith political talk

What is Stephen A. Smith's political endgame? The New Yorker's Jay Caspian King joins Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen to discuss. Ben and Brendon will also talk about ESPN opting out of their MLB contract after 2025, as well as various NBA topics including Richard Jefferson and Brian Windhorst on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-2:04: ESPN opts out of MLB rights after 2025-20:36: View From the Subreddit: ESPN Edition-26:14: “Court of Gold”-39:02: The New Yorker’s Jay Caspian Kang joins to discuss Stephen A. Smith’s political aspirations-1:03:34: Richard Jefferson joining Mike Breen and Doris Burke on NBA Finals broadcast-1:07:23: Brian Windhorst a free agent after the NBA seasonYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“rare to see Dallas stop a team in January,” one fan joked on Twitter.

“So McCarthy has all the leverage now??? Whether he waits 6 days until he is free agent or can demand any years/salary he wants?” one fan added.

“McCarthy‘s contract ends next week which means the Cowboys won’t be able to deny requests at that point unless they re-sign him by then. the bears will just interview him next week,” another fan added.

It’ll be interesting to see if Dallas signs McCarthy to an extension before his contract officially ends.

About Qwame Skinner