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After the Dallas Cowboys fell to 3-6 with their latest loss, linebacker Micah Parsons was asked if he thought Mike McCarthy would remain the head coach in 2025.
“That’s above my pay grade, if Mike’s coach again next year,” Parsons said. “All coaching aside, Mike can leave and go where he wants to. Guys I kind of feel bad for is guys like Zack Martin and guys who might be on their last year, on their way out, because that’s who I wanted to hold the trophy for.
“You want to win games and do great things with those type of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did. So, those are the kind of guys that I have so much sympathy and hurt for.”
Martin, 33, has been with the Cowboys since being drafted in the first round in 2014. He’s a nine-time Pro Bowler and holds seven first-team All-Pro selections, tying with Cowboys legends Bob Lilly and Randy White. This season, Martin is playing through ankle and shoulder injuries and is in the final year of his contract.
Parsons and McCarthy Address Comments
McCarthy, who has 18 years of head coaching experience and a Super Bowl win with the Packers, is also in the last year of his contract. He led the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 seasons from 2021 to 2023, though they didn’t progress past the divisional round in the playoffs.
McCarthy on Monday said he was six plays into his preparation for next Monday’s home game against the Houston Texans when he stopped to have a conversation with Parsons about his comments.
“We need to keep it to football,” McCarthy said. “If not, our opponent is an hour or two ahead of us.”
As McCarthy added, “With postgame remarks, when it creates questions for others in the locker room, it’s something I’ve always done — a conversation has to happen. So, Micah and I had a conversation this morning about it. Handled these things like men should handle it.”
McCarthy explained that Parsons’ intent was not to question the coach.
Parsons clarified on his podcast, The Edge with Micah Parsons, that he never intended to criticize McCarthy. “I never once threw, or even intended to throw, Mike McCarthy under the bus.”
“Like I said, he’s one of the most winningest [coaches]. He is a Super Bowl champ. I never once brung up his past,” Parsons said. “And the question that was asked was about here and the Dallas Cowboys, did I see Mike McCarthy in our future? And I said, ‘That’s above my pay grade.’ So, not once did I ever intended or wanted to reflect on Mike McCarthy’s career because I always knew it was a good one. I’ve always had a great relationship with Mike McCarthy. And I never even put that in question.”
Cowboys Face Leadership and Injury Challenges
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated after Sunday’s 34-6 loss to the Eagles that he doesn’t plan to change coaches midseason. The Cowboys, still fighting for a playoff spot, are facing more challenges with quarterback Dak Prescott likely out for the rest of the season due to a right hamstring injury. Prescott is expected to undergo surgery after consulting a specialist in New York.
Jones said he will consider all aspects of the season, including injuries, when making decisions. Parsons, who recently returned after missing four games due to a high ankle sprain, made a difference in his comeback game against the Eagles.
“My criteria has always been, ‘How we’re playing. Do we have an edge? Are we fundamentally competitive? Are we competitive when we’re down?’ Those kinds of things,” Jones said. “Not as much, obviously, the score. What does Bill [Parcells] say? You are what the score tells you you are? But still you look at all of those things and there’s no fairness.
“Let me be real clear. Nobody’s trying to be fair here. We’re trying to win a game. And so, those are the things I’m looking at to help be a part of decisions that could help us win a game. There’s no joy here without winning games, and I’m very regretful to our fans. Very.”
With McCarthy and the entire coaching staff in the final year of their contracts, Jones hinted at various options for change.
“There’s a lot of options,” Jones said when asked about other possibilities for change. “Whether or not they change the equation for the positive, that’s the issue. And so, there’s a lot of things you can do differently, but that wouldn’t necessarily bring a positive result.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
