Mike McCarthy, Jerry Jones still have a lot of work to do, and the clock is ticking.

It’s crunch time for the Dallas Cowboys. The team has only a few days before head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract expires on January 14, and owner Jerry Jones still has a lot of work to do.

According to the most recent update on the McCarthy case, there has been no progress despite days of negotiations between the two parties.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has the latest on NFL Countdown ahead of Wild Card Weekend.

According to Schefty, Jones and McCarthy have had “substantial football conversations,” but no “substantial conversations” about a future contract.

When the Cowboys declined the Chicago Bears’ request to interview McCarthy, it appeared that momentum was building for his return to the Dallas sidelines in 2025.

However, the longer this goes on, it appears like the two sides will eventually separate ways.

If this is the case, what was the point? You lost out on early interviews with the best head coaching candidates on the market and are now trying to catch up.

Oh, this is Jerry Jones, so the goal was always to stay in the news. From that perspective, it was a success.

The Dallas Cowboys, under the leadership of head coach Mike McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones, have experienced moments of great promise, but also persistent frustration. As the team continues to navigate the challenges of the NFL, it becomes increasingly clear that McCarthy and Jones still have significant work to do in order to achieve the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. Time is running out, and while the Cowboys are close, they are not yet there.

McCarthy, now in his fourth season as head coach of the Cowboys, has shown moments of brilliance, but the lingering question remains: can he finally bring a championship to Dallas? Jones, the ever-optimistic owner who has seen his franchise come close to the promised land multiple times but never quite reach it, must continue to work with McCarthy to address the remaining gaps in the roster and coaching staff. The window for the Cowboys’ current success is growing smaller, and both men must act quickly if they hope to turn their potential into a reality.

Mike McCarthy: A Coach at a Crossroads

Mike McCarthy’s tenure with the Cowboys has been one marked by incremental progress, but also by a pattern of underachievement in the postseason. While his first season in Dallas (2020) was marred by injuries, including Dak Prescott’s devastating leg injury, McCarthy has managed to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs in subsequent seasons. However, the team has failed to advance past the Divisional Round in each of the last two seasons, which has led to criticism of McCarthy’s coaching and the team’s lack of playoff success.

In 2023, the Cowboys showed flashes of brilliance throughout the regular season, with Dak Prescott playing at a high level, the defense being among the league’s best, and the team appearing poised for a deep playoff run. However, their inability to perform when it mattered most—particularly in the postseason—has led to increased pressure on McCarthy. While it’s clear that McCarthy has the technical expertise to lead the team, the question that remains is whether he can push them over the edge when the stakes are highest.

One of McCarthy’s biggest challenges has been navigating the expectations placed on the team by Jones and the Cowboys’ passionate fanbase. Dallas is a team with a rich history of success, but that success has largely eluded them in the modern era. The Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl since 1995, and McCarthy knows that the clock is ticking on his chance to bring home a championship.

In his time with the Packers, McCarthy won a Super Bowl and regularly led his team to the playoffs, but the results with the Cowboys have been more mixed. A talented roster, which includes one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Dak Prescott and an explosive defense led by Micah Parsons, has yet to deliver a Super Bowl victory. McCarthy’s ability to adjust his game plans, make in-game decisions, and ultimately win when it counts remains under heavy scrutiny.

For McCarthy, 2025 may be the most important season of his career. If the Cowboys don’t take that next step—both in terms of regular-season dominance and postseason success—the pressure on him to deliver a championship will likely reach a boiling point. The coaching carousel in the NFL is unforgiving, and if McCarthy doesn’t bring the Cowboys a Super Bowl, his tenure in Dallas may come to a premature end.

Jerry Jones: A Visionary Owner with Growing Urgency

Jerry Jones is a man who has always believed in the power of his vision. Since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones has transformed the team into one of the most valuable franchises in sports. His larger-than-life persona and willingness to take risks have made him a polarizing figure in the NFL, but there’s no denying his impact on the success and popularity of the Cowboys. However, as Jones ages, the clock is also ticking for him to deliver another championship to the Cowboys’ legacy.

Jones, now in his early 80s, is keenly aware of the fact that time is running out for the Cowboys to win another Super Bowl under his ownership. Despite his continued investment in the team and his belief that the Cowboys are close to championship contention, Jones has been unable to end the team’s 30-year Super Bowl drought. Jones has made moves to bolster the roster, bringing in high-profile players like Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, and Trevon Diggs, but the team has been unable to get over the hump in the postseason.

Jones’ decision to hire Mike McCarthy was part of his long-term strategy to bring stability and success to the franchise. Yet, as the years tick by without a Super Bowl appearance, Jones may need to reconsider his approach. Jones has always been heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the team, and while this has led to some notable successes, it has also created tension, particularly with the coaching staff. The dynamic between Jones and McCarthy has occasionally been a topic of discussion, with rumors circulating that Jones’ influence could be holding back the team’s progress.

Jones has also faced criticism for his handling of certain personnel decisions, particularly in terms of his faith in Prescott and his refusal to fully embrace the evolving dynamics of the NFL. The Cowboys have been quick to make moves in free agency, but their inability to consistently build a complete and balanced team has kept them from truly contending for a title. Jones’ tendency to prioritize star power over a complete team-oriented approach has raised questions about whether his vision for the team is aligned with the long-term success necessary to win a Super Bowl.

The pressure on Jones to deliver a championship is mounting, and he knows that his legacy as an owner will ultimately be defined by whether he can bring another title to Dallas. He has built a state-of-the-art stadium, cultivated a winning culture, and assembled a roster full of talented players, but the final piece—a Super Bowl victory—has eluded him for decades. At this stage of his career, Jones is likely feeling the weight of history on his shoulders, and with each passing season, the clock grows louder.

The Need for Collaboration and Unity

For the Cowboys to reach their full potential, McCarthy and Jones will need to work together more closely than ever. McCarthy has to prove that he can bring the necessary adjustments, discipline, and in-game decision-making to get the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, while Jones must ensure that he continues to build a roster that is capable of winning the big games. The two men must be aligned in their vision for the future, recognizing that the talent is there, but the execution and leadership are the missing pieces.

A championship-winning team requires more than just star players; it requires chemistry, strategy, and the ability to perform in high-pressure situations. McCarthy and Jones must find a way to bring out the best in one another, capitalizing on the strengths of the roster and addressing the weaknesses that have held them back in previous seasons. This means refining the offensive scheme to better support Prescott, developing a more consistent running game, and improving the defense in critical moments. The team also needs to find a way to be more disciplined in the postseason, where mistakes are often magnified.

In the coming years, McCarthy and Jones will be under intense scrutiny. They will be expected to make bold decisions, take risks, and push the Cowboys toward the ultimate prize: a Super Bowl championship. If they are unable to deliver, the consequences could be significant for both men and the franchise as a whole. The NFL is a league that rewards success, and failure to win big games can quickly lead to job insecurity and roster changes.