Report: Dallas Cowboys, Mike McCarthy spent 'significant time' discussing future of head coach

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is set to become a free agent next week when his contract ends. While that is the case, it seems as though the Cowboys are very interested in bringing him back for the 2025 season and beyond.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones met with Mike McCarthy for “significant time” on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. He added that the coaching staff is waiting, “hopeful something can be worked out.”

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The news about the Cowboys working to extend McCarthy is not a surprise after Dallas blocked the Bears from interviewing him for their head coaching job earlier this week. Chicago is interviewing a large number of candidates but McCarthy has not been given permission to do so.

In addition to Fowler, fellow ESPN insider Adam Schefter also provided an update on where things stand with the Cowboys and McCarthy. Schefter explained Thursday morning on Get Up.

“Questions continue to loom about Mike McCarthy in Dallas,” Schefter said. “If you’re the Dallas Cowboys, and you’re talking to Mike McCarthy, and you’re denying him the chance to talk to the Bears, then clearly you must have some interest in trying to work out a deal before he becomes a free agent.

“If they don’t, then that would be a very petty move on their part to deny permission when he can talk to them next week. So clearly the Cowboys have some interest in working out a deal with Mike McCarthy.”

Schefter added that while McCarthy and Jerry Jones have been in communication, he doesn’t get the sense that a deal is close to being worked out. That’s not exactly a surprise as the Cowboys were slow to agree to extensions with star players in 2024.

“My understanding is a contract is not close at this point in time. But the Dallas Cowboys don’t do anything very quickly,” Schefter said. “Dak Prescott signed his contract on the day that this season kicked off. CeeDee Lamb signed after all the other wide receivers at the end of the summer.

“And so this is a situation that looks like it will go down to the wire to see whether Dallas and Mike McCarthy can figure out a solution to any differences they have, or whether Mike McCarthy does become a free agent, and then does interview in Chicago and New Orleans and some of the other places that would have an interest in speaking with him.”