The Dallas Cowboys parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy in early Jan. 2025 after a tumultuous 7-10 season. After a week of speculation, the veteran coach is reportedly gaining momentum as a potential candidate elsewhere in the NFC.

Last week, the New England Patriots officially hired Mike Vrabel to be the 16th head coach in their franchise's history, just a week after firing Jerod Mayo. With that change, Vrabel will have the ability to hire his own coaches to work under him,

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, "Sources: Mike McCarthy is out as #Cowboys coach. The sides couldn't agree on length of contract and McCarthy will pursue other opportunities. He leaves Dallas with a winning record and three playoff appearances."

Overall, McCarthy leaves the Cowboys after earning a 50-36 record (playoffs included), three postseason appearances, two NFC East titles, and one lone Wild Card win – albeit over Tom Brady’s Buccaneers in his last game ever.

Now as a free agent, McCarthy is able to pursue the open job with the Packers-rival Bears, or any of the other vacancies, for that matter. With the New England Patriots hiring Mike Vrabel over the weekend, openings remain with the Bears, New York Jets ...

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy remain open to moving forward together and the sides are expected to open talks today on a new contract, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.

In a shocking turn of events from the momentum of the last week, it is being reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that Mike McCarthy will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys finished the 2024 campaign with a record of 7-10, and after five years, McCarthy’s contract has expired with a final record of 49-35.

The Cowboys and their coach are parting ways after a losing season that followed on the heels of a string of playoff disappointments.

By keeping McCarthy dangling for over a week, the Cowboys are a week behind other teams searching for a coach.

The Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy did not agree to a contract extension as the two sides will part ways, the team confirmed Monday.

For some of those teams, that will involve finding new head coaches and/or General Managers. Three teams fired their head coaches during the season and two more have been dispatched as of 9 a.m. ET on January 6.