FRISCO, Texas – Mike McCarthy will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

McCarthy’s contract with the Cowboys expired last Wednesday, but the team had an exclusive negotiating window with the coach until midnight Tuesday. However, the sides have not yet negotiated a new deal, sources told Schefter on Monday.

The Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints are expected to be interested in talking to him about their open positions, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Last week, an official request from the Bears for permission to speak with McCarthy was rejected by the Cowboys.

After a disappointing 7-10 finish in 2024, Jerry Jones will look to hire a head coach for the ninth time in his tenure as owner and general manager.

McCarthy had a 49-35 record in his five seasons as coach, winning just one playoff game while suffering devastating home losses in the wild card round to the San Francisco 49ers (2021) and Green Bay Packers (2023). .

Jones left McCarthy and his entire coaching staff working on the final years of their contract after going 12-5 three times in a row and leading the team to the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time since the 1990s.

The Cowboys began this season with a 3-2 record but suffered five straight losses and saw key players lose, including quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring), right guard Zack Martin (ankle), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), cornerback Trevon Diggs (Knee). and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) are ending the year on injured reserve.

After winning 16 straight regular season games at AT&T Stadium from 2021 to 2023, the Cowboys finished 2-7 at home in 2024, becoming the first team in NFL history to win in six straight home games, including the home opener 2023, at least 20 points behind had playoff loss to the Packers.

Before injuries completely derailed the season, Jones supported McCarthy and said he didn’t think coaching changes during the season made a difference. The only intraseason change Jones made came in 2010, when Jason Garrett took over for Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start to the season.

At 3-7, the Cowboys won four of their next five games with Cooper Rush at quarterback after Prescott underwent surgery Nov. 3 to repair a torn right hamstring. The Cowboys’ playoff chances officially ended in Week 16.

McCarthy was hired as Garrett’s successor in 2020 with one clear mandate: to deliver postseason success. From 2006 to 2018, McCarthy reached the playoffs nine times with the Green Bay Packers, appearing in four NFC Championship games and winning Super Bowl XLV at AT&T Stadium in the 2010 season.

McCarthy twice eliminated the Cowboys in the divisional round of the playoffs (2014, 2016). However, he was unable to build on the playoff success in Dallas.

The biggest disappointment, however, was a 48-32 loss to the Packers in the wild-card round in 2023. Green Bay led 27-0 with less than two minutes to play in the first half and the Cowboys were never dangerous.

The Cowboys never found their footing in 2024.

McCarthy started this season in the final year of his contract, although he became the first Cowboys coach since Jimmy Johnson (1991-93) to make three consecutive playoff appearances. However, Johnson won two Super Bowls.

Despite Jones’ all-in announcement early in the offseason, the Cowboys saw the key players from those three playoff seasons – left tackle Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard, center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong – leave in free agency. while little is being done to replace them.

The reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott didn’t pay off, but Rico Dowdle ended up with more than 1,000 yards.

Lamb missed training camp before signing a four-year, $136 million contract that made him the second-highest paid wide receiver in the game. Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract extension just hours before the season opener in Cleveland.

Three of the Cowboys’ best defenders – pass rusher Micah Parsons (ankle), Lawrence and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) – also missed due to injuries, which greatly impacted new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The Cowboys lost their first four home games of the season by a total of 94 points.

After finishing first in the NFL in points per game in 2023, McCarthy’s first as a playcaller, they finished 20th in points per game in 2024.

While there was improvement on defense over the course of the year, the Cowboys allowed 27.5 points per game, 31st in the NFL, and were 28th in yards allowed.

Jones is now looking for the ninth head coach of his tenure, which dates back to 1989. Since Johnson hired the hot offensive coordinator (Chan Gailey, 1998-99) who was promoted from within (Garrett, 2010-19). Dave Campo (2000-2002) hired a top defensive coordinator (Wade Phillips, 2007-10) and hired Super Bowl winners (McCarthy and Bill Parcells, 2003-06).

None of these were the answer to ending the Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought.

Is Jones, who turned 82 in October, looking for an NFL veteran, a college head coach or an up-and-coming coordinator on both sides of the ball to finally get the Cowboys over the hump?

All options appear to be on the table.