Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman had some harsh words for the Dallas Cowboys after the team parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday.
McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways after the two sides failed to agree on contract length, according to multiple reports. McCarthy’s deal was set to expire on Tuesday, and the Cowboys will have entered the head coaching carousel a little later than expected.
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Troy Aikman looks on prior to a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on October 7, 2024. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Photos)
Aikman broke down the move Monday night.
“I thought Mike McCarthy was going to be the head coach, so it’s a little bit of a surprise to me today that he’s not going to be. … It shows that there’s not a real plan,” he said before calling playoff game between Los Angeles. Rams and Minnesota Vikings.
“Obviously, I think the Cowboys are a high-profile team. Whoever is the head coach of that team is definitely going to attract a lot of attention, but I think most football people who take over as a head coach, they want to do it on their terms and it’s hard to do.
“I love the Dallas Cowboys. I played there for 12 years. I wish them the best of luck. To say it’s a coveted job, I’m not sure I would necessarily agree with that.”
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
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Aikman said it seemed “logical” that former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore would be a candidate for the head coaching job. However, he made it clear that anyone who got into the position might not be exactly themselves.
McCarthy became the head coach of the Cowboys before the 2020 season, taking over for Jason Garrett, who had spent 10 years at the helm. Although McCarthy went 6-10 in his first season, he saw some success when the team was healthy.
Dallas was 12-5 and won two division titles from 2021 to 2023. The team made the playoffs each year but failed to return to the NFC Championship, which has eluded them since they last won the Super Bowl in 1995.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy answers questions during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
The Cowboys saw Dak Prescott’s 2024 season end early and the team couldn’t recover. The Cowboys were 7-10.
