By SportsDay Staff
10:05 AM on Jan 18, 2024 CST — Updated at 11:09 AM on Jan 18, 2024 CST
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced Wednesday night that Mike McCarthy will return for a fifth season as head coach despite the shocking wild card loss to the Green Bay Packers. On Thursday morning, McCarthy held a news conference at The Star to discuss his return and the state of the team going into this offseason.
Here are the highlights from our reporters on the scene in Frisco:
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy says players were “chasing plays” in loss to Packers.
“You can’t chase big plays,” the Cowboys coach said. “There were a number of times we were chasing plays, and it bit us in the ass.” The Cowboys trailed 27-7 at halftime against Green Bay.
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he believes players were “going too fast” in Sunday’s playoff loss to Packers. “You can’t chase big plays. There were a number of times we were chasing plays, and it bit us in the ass.” pic.twitter.com/dq7tgrGmJ5
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 18, 2024
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McCarthy: “We have established a championship program. It’s just not a world championship yet.”
“I know how to win,” said McCarthy, who has guided the Cowboys to a 12-5 record three seasons in a row. “We will get over that threshold. I have total confidence.”
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: “We have an unbelievable fan base. They should be disappointed. …We have established a championship program. It’s just not a world championship yet. …I know how to win. We will get over that threshold. I have total confidence, and that’s why I am… pic.twitter.com/2MNGBoSdKS
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 18, 2024
McCarthy: “I believe in Dak Prescott. He’s clearly the answer and the solution going forward.”
The Cowboys quarterback has a nearly $60 million salary cap hit in 2024. It’s possible the Cowboys will choose to restructure his deal this offseason to lower that number.
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Mike McCarthy said of Dak Prescott: "I believe in Dak Prescott. He's clearly the answer and the solution going forward." Prescott has a $59.4 million cap hit in 2024.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 18, 2024
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McCarthy said he thinks Tyron Smith had “his best season” since he’s been the coach (2020).
After a career full of injuries, Smith was a productive member of the offensive line this season. The Cowboys opted to rest Smith during the week, giving him veteran off days from many practices.
Mike McCarthy said he Tyron Smith had "his best season" since he's been the coach (2020).
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 18, 2024
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Mike McCarthy said of the run offense and run defense: "We were below the line in both areas."
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 18, 2024
McCarthy: “I didn’t come here to get another contract. I came here to win a championship.”
After former coach Jason Garrett couldn’t get the Cowboys back the Super Bowl for the first time since after the 1995 season, McCarthy was charged with getting his team over the hump. However, the Cowboys are now 1-3 in the postseason during McCarthy’s four seasons as head coach.
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) January 18, 2024“I didn’t come here to get another contract. I came here to win a championship.”
_ Mike McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/pqzZLxJgHu
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said DC Dan Quinn is a “highly valued member of our coaching staff” when asked if Quinn, should he not take a head coach job, will return in 2024. pic.twitter.com/67X5T1vi0J
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 18, 2024
McCarthy says exit meetings with players showed “how strong they are.”
The Cowboys coach met with each player this week, before huddling with Jones on Wednesday night. He said he’ll meet with his assistants next week to formulate a plan for the offseason.
Mike McCarthy said the exit meetings with the players showed "how strong they are." He plans on meeting with assistant coaches early next week.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 18, 2024
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he “absolutely” will look for common denominators from losses to 49ers, Bills and Packers. “The negatives in those games are definitely at the forefront of what we need to be better at.” pic.twitter.com/Tmf4YXDvLZ
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 18, 2024
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) January 18, 2024“We have established a championship program. It’s just not a world championship program yet.
“We will get there.”
_ Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy pic.twitter.com/pjC1jwjmd9
McCarthy on the loss to the Packers: “It’s still raw right now. I’m still a little bit numb.”
The Cowboys lost to the Packers despite being 7.5 favorites. The Cowboys have won only one wild card game, against Tampa Bay in Tom Brady’s final season, under McCarthy.
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on what has to change: “It’s still raw right now. I’m still a little bit numb. …My experience and my approach has always been you’re going to have changes. You’re going to have adjustments. You’re going to have emphasis. …We’re just getting started.” pic.twitter.com/0Y6woEg8mR
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 18, 2024
Mike McCarthy: "I am very confident in the direction and I like where we are moving forward."
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 18, 2024
McCarthy says he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke for several hours about “pretty much everything in the football program.”
McCarthy said during the news conference that he enjoys his one-on-one interactions with Jones. He said he appreciates the Cowboys owner’s direct questions and he said the meetings are always productive.
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he and team owner Jerry Jones met for longer than three hours Wednesday afternoon. “We talked about a number of topics,” beginning with disappointment of how season ended and touching “pretty much everything in the football program.” pic.twitter.com/bT29DPRdEV
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 18, 2024
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