On Wednesday evening, the Dallas Cowboys (read: Jerry Jones) released a statement regarding the future of head coach Mike McCarthy. I’ll save you from reading the full statement and give you the highlights:
- We are very close to the Super Bowl;
- I believe in Mike McCarthy;
- Mike McCarthy has the highest winning percentage of any coach in franchise history;
- Mike McCarthy has demonstrated past playoff success;
- Everyone is hurt by our loss on Sunday, including me;
- I have my full support of Mike McCarthy, and;
- We’re going to move forward and get ready for the offseason.
While the statement is filled with saccharine to placate the casual Cowboys fan, the real fan starving for a Super Bowl is left unsatisfied. And while I’m not a Cowboys fan, I do understand very well as the fan of another football team when their ownership isn’t serious at all.
And Jerry Jones is unserious about winning.
Jerry Jones Sold His Soul for Super Bowls
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore we get to Jerry Jones’ decision on Mike McCarthy, let’s go to the Wayback Machine. In 1989, Jones put every asset he had into purchasing the Dallas Cowboys for $140M. One of his first decisions was to relieve longtime coach Tom Landry of his duties. He hired former Arkansas Razorback teammate Jimmy Johnson from the University of Miami. Not only would Jones own the team, but like Al Davis of the Oakland Los Angeles Oakland Las Vegas Raiders, he would act as general manager. Jones and Johnson worked together to construct the dynasty of the mid-1990’s that won three Super Bowls in four seasons. (Granted, Barry Switzer coached the team that won Super Bowl XXX, but let’s face it: it was Johnson’s team.) Jones mortgaged every asset to buy the Cowboys – and he sold his soul for three Super Bowls.
The Hiring of Mike McCarthy and the Aftermath
Embed from Getty ImagesFast forward to January 7, 2020 and Jerry Jones introduces Mike McCarthy as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. McCarthy guided Green Bay to nine playoff appearances between 2006 and 2018, including four NFC championship appearances and one Super Bowl. The expectation was for McCarthy to do the same in Dallas. Like his first season with the Packers, the Cowboys missed the playoffs. The Cowboys finished 12-4 in 2021 and earned the NFC East title, but were bounced by San Francisco in the Wild Card. Last season, they finished 12-5 and won in the Wild Card round, but were bounced again by San Francisco. This season, they won the NFC East again, only to be shocked by Green Bay in the Wild Card. The Cowboys looked overmatched and flat in their Wild Card match against a younger Packers squad. McCarthy was ill-prepared for what Green Bay threw at him.
Jerry Jones is Unserious About Winning
Embed from Getty ImagesIn the 35 years since purchasing the Cowboys, Jerry Jones’ team has been to the playoffs 18 times. They have not advanced past the divisional round since the 1995 season. The common denominator of their playoff failure has been Jones. Does the head coach deserve some of the blame for their latest playoff loss? Sure, but while Mike McCarthy is the chef, Jerry Jones is buying the groceries. Many NFL owners are unserious about winning, and their teams are a mantel piece at parties of their rich friends. But Jones is the most egregious one of them all since he is the de facto general manager. The only way he’ll ever be serious about winning is if he relinquishes control – and Jones will be dead before he cedes control.
Until that day comes, the Dallas Cowboys will continue to spin their wheels in mediocrity with no chance of a Super Bowl in sight.
