Mike McCarthy looked set to depart after the Dallas Cowboys were given their marching orders by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 playoffs, but one reason deterred Jerry Jones.
America’s Team was handed a traditional early playoff exit in January by Mike McCarthy’s old franchise.
Factions of fans were demanding that the franchise dismiss the head coach from his position.
However, Jerry Jones surprised the NFL when he decided to keep the former Super Bowl XLV-winning coach.
Mike McCarthy is set to coach in 2024 and his future looks bleak
McCarthy is now entering the final year of the contract he signed in 2020 and must reach an NFC Championship to have a shot at an extension.
Moreover, the franchise has been starved of a trip to the NFC Championship since their latest Super Bowl-winning season in 1995.
Therefore, after boasting a 1-3 playoff record as the Cowboys HC, Jones will force McCarthy into an all-or-nothing season.
America’s Team has run out of patience with the coach and he has to deliver substantial postseason success to earn a new contract.
Mike Florio spells out the reason why the ‘cheap’ Jerry Jones kept McCarthy
Nonetheless, while on the Pat McAfee Show, Pro Football Talk presenter Mike Florio hinted at the true reason why McCarthy was not fired this offseason.
“Jerry Jones for as rich as he is, is cheap and he doesn’t like to pay people who do not work for him,” Florio said via the show.
“He (Jones) didn’t fire McCarthy primarily because he would have had to pay him not to work in 2024. So, play out the year and I think Belichick… maybe the ace in the hole next year if it doesn’t work out with McCarthy.”
Florio articulates how paying McCarthy off in 2024 for the remainder of his contract forced Jones to persist with him.
Bill Belichick is keen to coach the Cowboys and work with Jerry Jones
However, he goes one step further to suggest that Bill Belichick will be his successor if McCarthy fails to deliver.
Weeks ago, a report emerged from ESPN stating a person close to Belichick said he would only work for Jerry Jones.
The legendary NFL head coach is without a job in 2024 but is set to take up various media roles.
Belichick was linked with the Cowboys job soon after the Green Bay loss, as he had agreed to mutually part ways with the New England Patriots.
Included in the report were ties linking Belichick with the pressured head coaching roles at the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants.
Florio has previously stated that there will be inevitable tampering that will affect the appointment of Belichick to various teams.