Dak Prescott Reacts To The Cowboys Parting Ways With Mike McCarthy

01/14/2025 01:02 PM

Dak Prescott will play for a different head coach in 2025.

On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys announced that Mike McCarthy won't return for a sixth season. The Cowboys finished 7-10 after losing Prescott to a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9.

After campaigning for McCarthy's return, Prescott admitted that he was disappointed by the news. Per Clarence Hill of All City DLLS, the quarterback called McCarthy "a great coach and a hell of a man."

"Bummed, because we built some things," Prescott told Hill. "But I guess they couldn't reach an agreement."

Prescott played two of his finest seasons under McCarthy, throwing a career-high 37 touchdowns in 2021 and placing second to Lamar Jackson in the 2023 MVP voting with a 105.9 passer rating. The Cowboys finished each of those seasons first in total offense.

Dallas went to the playoffs three straight times with a 12-5 record, but America's Team mustered one postseason victory.

Prescott endorsed a McCarthy return last month, suggesting the former Super Bowl champion should have more authority.

"I believe in him wholeheartedly," Prescott told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein in early September. "I think he definitely deserves a chance at another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. 'On his terms' may be a good way to say it."

Later in the month, Prescott praised McCarthy for keeping the Cowboys afloat as he coached on an expiring contract with constant chatter about his future.

"It's tough to probably get your job done and do your job with all that hanging over your head," Prescott said, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "But credit to him, credit to his professionalism and really his coach's style of being able to get guys being ready to play and go out there and finish and take pride in what we finish and what we put on tape. Obviously, I'm a promoter of bringing him back."

Despite Prescott's support, the Cowboys and McCarthy will part ways. Prescott, who started his career alongside Jason Garrett, will wait to see his new head coach for 2025.

Less than 24 hours after the team's announcement, Kellen Moore, Jason Witten, and Deion Sanders were all mentioned as possible replacement candidates.

Related: Mike McCarthy Is Out As The Dallas Cowboys Head Coach