Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys | Ron Jenkins/GettyImages

The Dallas Cowboys are in a position to possibly part ways with head coach Mike McCarthy in the coming days. While McCarthy’s team has rallied late in the season, Dallas is still not in a position to once again compete for the postseason, which could prompt a change.

McCarthy is not oblivious to what has been going on around his team. With the Eagles and Commanders vaulting over Dallas in the standings, it has become quite clear that the Cowboys may need to shake something up. Jerry Jones and Dak Prescott aren’t going anywhere, so that falls on McCarthy’s shoulders.

Week 18’s matchup against Jayden Daniels and Washington won’t be enough to save McCarthy’s job, as the decision on his status has likely been made already. McCarthy is well aware of the fact that he could be on his way out in Dallas in the very immediate future.

McCarthy talked about the “very strong emotional attachment” he has to coaching and admits that the possibility of coaching his final game is on his mind right now. He may not be trying to think too much about it, but he has to know that his time could be up.

Mike McCarthy might be anticipating Cowboys firing him after Week 18

McCarthy has gone 49-34 as Cowboys coach, making the playoffs three times. His two losing seasons, 2020 and 2024, were marred by injuries to Dak Prescott. When No. 4 is healthy, McCarthy has been capable of winning the division and consistently making it to the playoffs.

However, McCarthy’s resume will once again be judged by his playoff failures, in much the same was as they were in Green Bay. Dallas has won just one playoff game in McCarthy’s tenure, which came against the withered husk of Tom Brady when the Cowboys were road favorites.

McCarthy is 174-111-2 as a head coach in the NFL with a Super Bowl to his name, but he is still a controversial figure. In 13 seasons since his Super Bowl win, almost all of which have come with prime Prescott and all-time good QB play from Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy has won just five playoff games.

There were a few highs in the McCarthy era; that much is indisputable. However, like his Green Bay tenure, McCarthy will leave under disappointing circumstances after leaving a good chuunk of meat on the bone with some very talented teams.