Examining league hot seats, current openings with two weeks left in 2024 regular season

The Cowboys find themselves in an unusual situation, though not one unprecedented in Dallas: Head coach Mike McCarthy and most of his assistants all have contracts that expire after the season.

After the 2014 season, Jason Garrett’s contract expired before the Cowboys signed him to a new five-year deal, as well as retaining his coordinators. Five years later, Garrett’s contract expired again, and after several days in limbo, the team announced it would not retain him.

The big difference between McCarthy and Garrett is that McCarthy — a Super Bowl champion in Green Bay who has a .612 career winning percentage, including a 49-33 mark in Dallas — may well have other head coaching opportunities upon hitting free agency, with teams that have interviewed him before (Jets) and previous employers (Saints) already having vacancies. If another team calls, McCarthy would be free to consider his options, regardless of whether owner Jerry Jones wants him to return.

There have been no substantive talks yet about an extension for McCarthy in Dallas. But Jones has been increasingly effusive in his praise of McCarthy amid a rash of injuries, saying after the team beat the Bucs and improved to 7-8 last week: “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way the coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, the way that the leadership on this team, and really proud of these young players. They just are growing mentally and physically by leaps and bounds, makes me think we’ve got and outstanding future ahead of us.”

Coordinators Brian Schottenheimer, Mike Zimmer and John Fassel also have expiring contracts, sources say. One more reason for Jones to act decisively upon the conclusion of the season next weekend with a head coach he clearly holds in high regard.