Jerry Jones expands on decision to retain Mike McCarthy as head coach

There were eight head coaching vacancies to kick off the NFL off season. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a quick decision as to whether there would be a ninth in the league.

Jones opted to keep head coach Mike McCarthy, making the decision three days after the Cowboys, the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff bracket, lost badly at home to the Packers. For Cowboys fans, it’s reached the point of Super Bowl or bust. No one would have been surprised if Jones dismissed McCarthy after four seasons.

Jones explained his thought process in regards to McCarthy during a press availability at the Senior Bowl. Cowboys continuity seemed to be his big theme.

“I felt the best decision (was) to have the continuity that Mike brings,” Jones told reporters. “When I look at the job he’s done over the last four years, I can point to some real positives, not the least of which are his 12-win seasons. I think we certainly have made improvement in areas. I think Dak (Prescott) for instance, we’re right at a key spot there with Dak, Dak has improved since Mike has been here, and I think we can look forward to … more there to get in terms of Dak’s improvement. … . (McCarthy staying) impacts a lot of other things we’re doing right now with our decisions. We’re making sure it all made sense to have him back.”

Jones said he didn’t need to talk himself into keeping McCarthy

A Cowboys beat reporter then asked Jones if he needed to talk himself into keeping McCarthy. The owner and head coach met for three hours earlier this month to talk about their immediate future together.

“This is not a ‘talk yourself into it,'” Jones said of his decision. “It obviously gives you a lot of things to consider and think about. Everybody has options. This is one I’m very comfortable with. I felt good during the year with the job that Mike was doing. The team was responding well. We were all disappointed that we didn’t win that Green Bay game. We had visions of a lot better than that, we all did. But there are things there that we can take forward.”