Anyone who has followed NFL news the past few days might have assumed Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy already had his bags packed, ready to leave town.
As it turns out, the veteran coach isn’t going anywhere. In a surprise move, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones issued a statement Wednesday night saying McCarthy will return for the 2024 season.
Sports media professionals immediately reacted to the surprising news. Undisputed host Skip Bayless, a die-hard Cowboys fan, summed up his reaction in one word.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 18, 2024
Thankfully, other analysts offered a more in-depth look at the Cowboys’ decision. Most felt Dallas is making a mistake. ESPN’s Robert Griffin III noted, “McCarthy is a good and respected coach, but it’s the wrong decision unless he can cultivate an identity for the Cowboys.”
After 3 consecutive 12 win seasons, the Dallas Cowboys are running it back with Mike McCarthy at Head Coach. McCarthy is a good and respected coach, but it’s the wrong decision unless he can cultivate an identity for the Cowboys. All the great Cowboys teams had an identity. You…
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 18, 2024
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg dropped a classic quote to describe the decision. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” Greenberg posted, mistakenly attributing Albert Einstein for the famous quote. Einstein never said that, but plenty of NFL fans and media felt that way about the Cowboys Wednesday.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
– Albert Einstein #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/jxU3fQW8bp— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 18, 2024
Media pros went head to head on social media in some cases debating the situation.
Hard disagree. It is what it is at this point as constructed. Hard disagree. It’s been 28 years since they appeared in the NFC title game. 36 regular season wins isn’t the standard… getting over the hump is https://t.co/SUebHy2LJD
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 18, 2024
NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt hated the Cowboys decision: “Cowboys gonna give McCarthy another shot. My God. That’s some 100% pure, grass fed, organic Definition of Insanity stuff right there.”
Cowboys gonna give McCarthy another shot. My God.
That’s some 100% pure, grass fed, organic Definition of Insanity stuff right there.
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) January 18, 2024
The strong consensus among media pros: What the heck is Jerry Jones thinking? Yet not everyone agreed. Fox Sports analyst Greg Olsen had predicted the Cowboys would keep the embattled coach.
“Every weekly talking head said he was gone. Emotional decisions make people feel better. They hardly result in positive outcomes,” Olsen said in a tweet.
I guess I wasn’t so crazy Sunday huh?
Every weekly talking head said he was gone. Emotional decisions make people feel better. They hardly result in positive outcomes. https://t.co/1ISJbu9e7B
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) January 18, 2024
Perhaps Stephen A. Smith, a notorious Cowboys hater, summed up the situation best in a tweet showing only his puzzled look.
https://t.co/gLSeTA8pyW pic.twitter.com/ndllUlWs5R
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 18, 2024
