Many are speculating about the status of Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy following the team’s 48-32 upset loss to the Green Bay Packers in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Game.
However, McCarthy received support from his quarterback Dak Prescott, who told reporters that he feels just as responsible for the Cowboys’ playoff struggles.
“He’s been amazing. I don’t know how that can be,” Prescott said when asked about speculation regarding McCarthy’s future. “But I understand the business. In that case, it should be about me as well, honestly.”
NFL on CBS 🏈 @NFLonCBS
“He’s been amazing… I understand it’s about winning the Super Bowl… so I get it, but add me to the list in that case.”
– Dak Prescott on speculation about Mike McCarthy’s job security
"He's been amazing… I understand it's about winning the Super Bowl… so I get it, but add me to the list in that case."
– Dak Prescott on speculation about Mike McCarthy's job security pic.twitter.com/OTkVY7jvbc
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 15, 2024
Prescott went on to praise McCarthy as a coach and continued to accept blame for the playoff futility in Dallas.
“That guy, I’ve had the season I’ve had because of him. This team has had the success they’ve had because of him,” he said. “I understand it’s about winning the Super Bowl, and that’s the standard of the league and damn sure should be the standard of this place. I get it, but add me to the list in that case.”
Prescott is set to count for a $59.45 million cap hit in 2024, which is the final year of his four-year $160 million extension signed in 2021. In December, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Prescott and the Cowboys were expected to negotiate a contract extension this offseason that would make him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
Prescott had a strong showing in the regular season that had him in the MVP conversation. However, he struggled mightily against the Packers in Sunday’s loss, which dropped him to 2-5 in postseason starts in his eight-year career.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to comment on the future of McCarthy or anyone else after Sunday’s game. It would be understandable if he feels a change is necessary, as Dallas has failed to advance past the Divisional Round of the playoffs since 1995, which is the last time the team won a Super Bowl.
It looks like McCarthy’s days in Dallas are numbered, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Prescott’s were as well.