'Very challenging times': Dallas Cowboys part ways with head coach Mike McCarthy after five seasons
Mike McCarthy is not returning as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, who are going on three decades since their last Super Bowl title, owner Jerry Jones said in a statement.
The franchise's owner said the organisation and McCarthy mutually agreed to part ways.
The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
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“I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure," Jones said on Tuesday (AEDT).
McCarthy’s contract expired following a 7-10 season.
Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. Getty
Dallas was 12-5 each of the three years before that under him, but still hasn’t been past the divisional round of the NFC playoffs since its last Super Bowl in the 1995 season.
McCarthy’s contract expired January 8 and the Cowboys have an exclusive negotiation window, but the parties decided to split ahead of the deadline.
At least one other NFL team asked during that time about talking to the 61-year-old coach, who previously won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.
Next season will be the 30th for the Cowboys since winning the last of their five titles.
Dallas played the final nine games this season without franchise quarterback Dak Prescott because of a torn hamstring.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Supplied
Top receiver CeeDee Lamb, guard Zack Martin, cornerback Trevon Diggs and rusher DeMarcus Lawrence also finished the season on injured reserve.
Only 12 NFL coaches have more career regular-season wins than McCarthy’s 174, which is still far behind Don Shula’s record 328.
The only active coaches with more wins than McCarthy are Andy Reid (302 wins over 29 seasons) and Mike Tomlin (183 wins in 18 seasons).
Jones' next coach will be his ninth as owner of the Cowboys.
