Michael Irvin calls for Dallas Cowboys to move on from Mike McCarthy

Dallas Cowboys (7-9) legend Michael Irvin believes his former team needs more discipline. In order to achieve that, Mike McCarthy should not return as the team’s head coach in 2025, he said.

.@michaelirvin88 says it's time to move on from Mike McCarthy:

"This team needs more discipline." pic.twitter.com/vQaQpJB4X3

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 30, 2024

“Yes, I would [replace McCarthy],” Irvin said Monday on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “I just think it’s time to go in another direction. I hear this late surge to maybe go and stay with Mike McCarthy — I’m not on that bandwagon. What I believe is this team needs more discipline. I’m not saying Mike McCarthy is not a good X’s and O’s coach, but I think the team needs more discipline and it’s hard to bring that in when you say this guy that doesn’t have that firm hand in discipline is now going to bring somebody else in and help with discipline. That doesn’t work.

“… You can’t come in soft and try to get tough. It’s a wrap. You gotta come in tough and then lighten up because then the guys feel like they’ve earned some respect and earned you loosening up a little bit. But you come in loose and then try to get firm, you just get flat.”

Mike McCarthy pressed on if he wants to return as Cowboys coach in 2025

McCarthy, 61, is out of a contract once the 2024 season comes to an end. The Cowboys have one game left on the schedule, a home contest against the Washington Commanders (11-5) this coming Sunday. Dallas is already eliminated from playoff contention in a season which team owner Jerry Jones said they were “all-in.”

But amid inconsistent play and a growing list of injuries to key players, Dallas finds itself on the outside looking in of the postseason for the first time since McCarthy’s first season at the helm in 2020. He has since led the Cowboys to three playoff appearances and two NFC East division titles.

Dallas will soon make a final decision on McCarthy’s future — as will McCarthy himself. Even if the Cowboys want to keep him, there’s nothing stopping the former Super Bowl champion from taking a job elsewhere. Speaking Monday on 105.3 The Fan, McCarthy addressed if he wants to return under a new contract.

“I need to make sure I’m doing exactly what I’m asking everybody else to do, we need to finish the race,” McCarthy said, via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram “… We’ll have time to talk about that next week.”