Mike McCarthy hot seat: NFL insider reveals latest expectation for Dallas Cowboys amid 5-7 start

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys are 5-7 this season. On Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano weighed in on Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy‘s future with the organization.

“Could they win out? Theoretically, yeah. But with Cooper Rush and all the other issues they have, injury wise, it feels unlikely,” Graziano said. “If they don’t get into playoffs and make a run, I think it’s going to be difficult. Mike McCarthy was hired four years ago to do what Jason Garrett could not, which is get over the hump in the postseason. He hasn’t really done that.

“The Cowboys obviously lose their quarterback. That makes it difficult this year, but it’s not like they were on track to do that anyway. I think with his contract expiring, the likelihood is that they move on. This is a place we watch for a potential head coach change at the end of the season.”

It’s been a tumultuous season for the Cowboys. The team began the season 3-2 but then lost five straight games. During the ugly, the Cowboys battled an onslaught of injuries, including a season-ending hamstring injury for starting quarterback Dak Prescott.

While the Cowboys have won their last two games, it’s still unlikely for the team to reach the playoffs. Even if the Cowboys were able to make the playoffs, history isn’t on their side.

Since Mike McCarthy took the reins of the organization in 2020, Dallas has reached the playoffs three times. However, the organization has never advanced past the divisional round under McCarthy.

Despite the Cowboys’ shortcomings this season, not everybody is convinced that Mike McCarthy’s time in Dallas is coming to an end.

“The roster was lacking even before Dak got injured. But now, with Dak injured, there’s not a whole lot this team can do. They’re playing hard for Mike McCarthy,” ESPN’s Jeff Saturday said. “There’s not a ton of coaches out there who have a better résumé than Mike McCarthy.

“Jerry Jones doesn’t like to make a ton of change at that position. I know we all think he is erratic. He’s only erratic when dealing with himself and the media. So when it comes from that side, I’m just not sure he makes a change. So I think McCarthy could potentially save his job.”