Returning Dallas HC McCarthy pins hope on quarterback Prescott

Now that Mike McCarthy’s return as Dallas Cowboys head coach has been confirmed by owner Jerry Jones, McCarthy is putting an “unbelievable” amount of trust in the team’s quarterback.

McCarthy, returning for the fifth season despite a 32-48 wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers last Monday, is preparing the team for the offseason. One of the preparations is to clarify the team’s star quarterback Dak Prescott’s future with the Cowboys.

Despite a performance against the Packers wherein Prescott recorded his first multi-interception game since Week 5 and struggled until the late stages, there is no indication that Jones or McCarthy are considering a change.

“I believe in Dak Prescott. I think he’s clearly the answer,” McCarthy said in a press conference on Thursday. “He’s part of the solution moving forward. As difficult as this time is right now, when we can work through this emotional period that we’re in, we’ll continue to build off what he brings to the table.”

McCarthy-Prescott special connection

Coming off a season that propelled him into MVP conversations, Prescott holds a contract extending through the 2024 NFL season with a $59.455 million salary-cap hit. December reports indicated an anticipated long-term contract extension this offseason, elevating the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner among the league’s top-paid signal callers.

Throughout their four seasons working together, McCarthy has witnessed some of the quarterback’s most productive moments. In the two full seasons untouched by Prescott’s injuries, he consistently threw for a minimum of 35 touchdowns and 4,400 yards, attempting at least 590 passes.

The playbook aligns well with Prescott’s abilities, yet some areas require improvement for the Cowboys to meet their high expectations. When questioned about McCarthy’s future in Dallas, Prescott, in turn, raised inquiries about his own future with the team.

“He’s [McCarthy] been amazing,” Prescott said in a press conference on Sunday. “I don’t know how there can be [speculation] but I understand the business. In that case, there should be about me as well, honestly.”

McCarthy, cautious about premature discussions, highlighted the need to assess possible changes before the next season. Factors such as defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s potential departure for a head coaching role and player evaluations must be completed before formulating the official offseason plan.