The contracts of head coach Mike McCarthy, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and much, if not all, of the Cowboys' coaching staff are set to expire following Dallas' loss to the Washington Commanders in Sunday's regular-season finale.
The loss dropped the Cowboys to 7-10, including 2-7 at home, and raised the drumbeat of questions -- most notably about McCarthy's future.
McCarthy, whose contract expires on Jan. 14, faced them head on, saying he still views himself as the man for the job in Dallas.
"I have a lot of confidence in myself as a head coach," McCarthy said after the game. "I think like anything, body of work, you know the statistics, I think it's more about the program, the details of what needs to get done. How can we get better? All those things go into these decisions of whether you originally get the job or continue to move forward."
The loss dropped McCarthy's record with the Cowboys to 49-35, missing the postseason for the second time in his five seasons. Even with the backward step, McCarthy said he and owner Jerry Jones can return to work together to get the team back on track.
"I'm definitely in position with Jerry to move the program forward," he said. "There's no question about that in my mind. That's why these conversations need to happen here in the near future."
The Cowboys have dragged out their postseason coaching decisions in the recent past, but first Jones needs to decide if he's even thinking about letting McCarthy walk.
"I don't know that I am considering making a change is really what I'm trying to say," Jones said, , while speaking to the media for nearly 40 minutes.
McCarthy clearly would like clarity sooner rather than later. He's still a highly regarded coach in league circles and theoretically could have options elsewhere. Asked what value he thought he brought to the Cowboys, McCarthy brought it back to his long-term success, even though that's marred by a 1-3 postseason record.
"I don't like to talk about myself that way, but I'll just be clear: I'm a winner. I know how to win. I've won a championship. I won a championship in this building, and that's who I am," McCarthy said defiantly. "We'll see where it goes."
Jones has spoken positively about McCarthy in recent weeks as Dallas closed the season on a higher note, at one point winning four of five games before dropping its final two contests. Jones continued to praise McCarthy as a coach following Sunday's game.
"Mike's one of the best coaches that I think there is," Jones said, per ESPN.com. "He was made the coach here because I thought that, and he's done absolutely nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach."
Jones also pushed back when asked about whether he might consider relinquishing the general manager title he holds, continuing to possess final say on personnel matters, even with exec Will McClay acting as the Cowboys' personnel honcho on a daily basis. Jones said there will be no change to his title or role going forward.
"No, just no," Jones said, per the . "I bought the team. I think the first thing that came out of my mouth when somebody asked, 'Did you buy this for your kids?' I said, 'Hell, no. I bought it for (myself), and I didn't buy an investment. I bought an occupation, and I bought something that I was going to do for the rest of my life, and that's what I'm doing.
"And so, no. The facts are that since I have to decide where the money's spent, then you might as well cut all the bull鈥 out. That's who's making the call anyway."
Jones' next call will be on McCarthy's future. Now the wait begins.
