This is what Cowboys purgatory looks like. Mike McCarthy’s job with the team is very much undecided with his contract expiring in less than a week. But as ESPN reported Thursday, the “future” was on the table during a recent discussion between the Super Bowl-winning coach and team owner Jerry Jones.

McCarthy’s five-year contract with the club ended in the wake of the team’s 23-19 loss to Washington to end the regular season. But the veteran coach’s contract contains an exclusive negotiating window with the Cowboys that doesn’t expire until Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Cowboys denied a request from the Chicago Bears to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. Now one day later, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that talks between McCarthy and the Cowboys are ongoing, a sign they want to continue to work together.

Will they or won’t they? The Cowboys’ front office and Mike McCarthy are still determining who will be the head coach on the sidelines in 2025, as the rest of the league moves forward with other coaching searches across the NFL.

Much has been made on sports talk shows and among other NFL pundits about the supposed ‘mess’ that is the Dallas Cowboys handling of the Mike McCarthy head coach question. There is plenty of talk about Dallas mistreating Mike McCarthy by not making a decision,

Mike McCarthy has often been the fall guy for this Dallas Cowboys team. This offseason, he could send a message back to Jerry Jones and Co. if he plays his cards right.

Mike McCarthy's contract with the Cowboys is about to expire. Here's the timeline fans need to know about a decision on the head coach.

McCarthy guided the Cowboys to just one playoff win over five campaigns, but his teams went 12-5 each season from 2021-23 before a noteworthy injury crisis impacted the club this past fall.