Jones smiled. When McCarthy extended his hand for a handshake, the owner responded by opening his arms and embracing his head coach. He spent a few moments talking to McCarthy, placing one hand on the coach’s shoulder and gently tapping him on the chest with a fist. As the conversation wound down, Jones patted McCarthy on the shoulder several times and made a fist pump. This encounter, perhaps intentionally, occurred in front of a “Sunday Night Football” camera, broadcasting their emotional interaction to the Cowboys’ audience still tuned in.
Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy in the locker room after tonight’s win pic.twitter.com/zPfti4P31i
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 23, 2024
To understand the relationship between the Cowboys’ head coach and the franchise’s owner, this clip is enlightening for two reasons: First, it’s evident that Jerry, ever mindful of appearances and the influence of performance, intended this moment to be seen. Whether it was a public demonstration of respect McCarthy had earned or Jones simply wanted to attach a visual to his sentiments that night, he knew the image would reach a broad audience. And the second reason it’s significant? Jones knows it comes amid ongoing discussions about McCarthy’s job security, a situation Jerry instigated by allowing his head coach to enter the last year of his contract without a clear public directive on how an extension might be secured.
Let’s be clear about this celebratory yet complicated interaction as it progresses: both men have played a role in its creation. Jerry, by letting McCarthy navigate this series of games without clarity about the future of the Cowboys’ coaching staff. And McCarthy, by arguably providing his best coaching in the part of the season where there was nothing left to secure except the honor of not surrendering.
A Season of Challenges and Resilience
Make no mistake; that’s what we witnessed last night. McCarthy exhibited a locker room that remains unified despite losing a postseason target. They persevered through a significant number of injuries on the offensive line, with backup quarterback Cooper Rush and receiver CeeDee Lamb, who played through a painful shoulder ailment on Sunday. Add to that a depleted defense that challenged a talented Buccaneers offense and literally snatched a victory in the final moments of Sunday night when cornerback DaRon Bland extracted a fumble from Tampa running back Rashaad White. It was a moment that encapsulated several crucial defensive stands and offensive plays, effectively stopping a game-winning drive that seemed attainable for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Following the game, Jerry was generous in his commendation of the effort against the Buccaneers, making it clear that the performance stirred something inside him.
“Those guys came out and played as though they were fighting in the championship game to go to the Super Bowl,” Jones said afterward. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of them and the coaching staff. It really shows me something.”
McCarthy, for his part, aimed to articulate what that “something” entailed.
“I just think that [effort] shows you who they are,” McCarthy stated. “I think everybody says the coach is always talking highly of the locker room — well, this is what I’m talking about. When I talk about, ‘It’s a great locker room,’ this is the definition of it. This is what a great locker room looks like. And it’s a mixture of men from all over the country, all over the world, and different personalities. Obviously, in circumstances [out of the playoffs] that we’ve discussed at length already. But when it came time to play, they played their asses off and I can’t tell you how proud I am.”
Lessons from a Season of Ups and Downs
Of course, this peak — winning four of the last five games, reaching a 7-8 record with a possibility of finishing the season at 9-8 — comes with assessments that extend beyond merely a cohesive locker room. Legitimate questions arise about the whereabouts of this locker room culture during a harsh five-game losing streak from mid-October to mid-November. During that span, Dallas suffered severe defeats in three contests, against the Detroit Lions (47-9), Philadelphia Eagles (34-6), and Houston Texans (34-10). Not too long ago, Jerry openly questioned aspects of the Dallas scheme while also engaging in sometimes unusual postgame monologues lacking a coherent link to the present.
Those were the times when Bill Belichick was a potential candidate for the Cowboys’ coaching position, and they’re not distant memories. However, situations can shift rapidly with Jerry. He experiences Everest-like highs after victories and Death Valley lows post-losses. These swings typically result in McCarthy’s own roller coaster regarding his future with the team.
Currently, the Cowboys are winning again — even if the successes come too late to impact the postseason. But as these triumphs accumulate and key players’ support becomes more public (and apparent to Jerry), the disappointment has begun to fade where it counts. It’s evident in Jerry’s remarks. It’s visible in the embrace shared between an owner and head coach, seemingly a deliberate message to the fan base.
Changes are afoot. A 9-8 conclusion to the season and the positive feedback from his players have directed Mike McCarthy toward the one thing Jerry has refrained from providing thus far.
A contract renewal.