Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Safe, But Defensive Coaching Changes Could Be Imminent

According to Ian Rapoport, Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy should be able to avoid being one-and-down as the head coach in Dallas. 

Rapoport says from talking with sources with the team, it appears McCarthy is safe. However, something has to give with how poorly the Cowboys have played in 2020 and Rapoport says DC Mike Nolan could be on the chopping block. 

He points out the Cowboys have severely underperformed on defense compared to last season despite having largely similar personnel. Nolan and the new system is the biggest element that’s changed. 

It appears McCarthy will receive a pass, for now, for how much the Cowboys have underperformed expectations as a whole in 2020, though the loss of star QB Dak Prescott likely plays a role in how McCarthy’s performance is being judged. 

McCarthy, 56, began his NFL coaching career with the Chiefs back in 1993 as an offensive quality control coordinator. He bounced around with the Packers, Saints and 49ers before the Packers hired him as their head coach in 2006.

The Packers made the decision to move on from McCarthy following their disappointing loss to the Cardinals in Week 13 of 2018. He was out of football in 2019 before being hired by the Cowboys in 2020. 

During his 13-year tenure in Green Bay, McCarthy led the Packers to a record of 125-77-2 (61.8 percent), which includes nine playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 2010.

McCarthy is  3-9 so far in his first season in Dallas.