The Dallas Cowboys and their head coach Mike McCarthy are facing an uncertain future as the exclusive negotiating window for his contract is set to close at midnight. With no ongoing negotiations reported, McCarthy could become a free agent as early as 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with interest anticipated from teams like the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. Despite having discussions with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones regarding the team's future, no contract extension has been reached.

The Cowboys ended the 2024 season with a disappointing 7-10 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. McCarthy's overall coaching record with Dallas stands at 49-35 in the regular season, but he is only 1-3 in playoff appearances. The team was hindered by significant injuries to key players including quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, impacting their performance throughout the season.

As the Cowboys look to the future, the fate of McCarthy and his entire coaching staff remains uncertain, with the same negotiating deadline looming for them as well.