Troy Aikman expects Mike McCarthy to return as Cowboys coach in 2025

The moment Jerry Jones announced in the offseason that the Cowboys would not be extending Mike McCarthy’s contract was the moment it felt like the coach was beginning his final season in Dallas. The entire coaching staff is in the final year of their contracts.

However, the Cowboys continued to play hard for McCarthy and are now two wins from .500 despite numerous injuries, including a season-ending hamstring injury to quarterback Dak Prescott.

Therefore, McCarthy’s return for next season seems more likely than it did a week, two weeks or six months ago.

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, who is broadcasting tonight’s game for ESPN, said on 105.3 The Fan that he expects McCarthy back in Dallas next season.

“Other than Bill Belichick, I don’t know who you’re going to hire that has a better resume,” Aikman said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “I just feel like that’s that far off for a team that I really don’t think. . . . I like the way this team is playing right now, even without their franchise quarterback.

“I feel like it’s a team that really believes in Mike McCarthy. I feel like the locker room wants him back. I think he’s a really good football coach. I think Jerry Jones also thinks he’s a really good football coach. . . . As we stand and talk now, I expect Mike McCarthy to be back in 2025.”

McCarthy won a Super Bowl with the Packers and led the Cowboys to back-to-back 12-win seasons over the last three seasons.

The question is: Does McCarthy want to return? He could choose to become a free agent and move to another location with a front office that utilizes free agents to help improve the roster.

In his five seasons in Dallas, he is 47-32 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason.