Who is next man up when 2024 is McCarthy's finale?

It's probably safe to assume that the only way Mike McCarthy can keep his job next year is to make a Super Bowl appearance. It might even have to be a Super Bowl win.

And that assumes that after five years of this circus, McCarthy doesn't come back at all.

Judging by the expressions we've seen at press conferences so far this season, he might be sick of the Jerry Jones show.

Could you blame him?

Which leads to a lot of speculation. If this is McCarthy's grand finale, who will be 10th?^Th Head coach in Dallas Cowboys history?

The early leader

Bill Belichick's name as the next leader of the Cowboys has repeatedly come up in discussion. Some are even calling for McCarthy to be fired now and bring in the mastermind of the Patriots dynasty.

He has the resume, along with six Lombardi trophies on his mantle.

He is also 72 years old.

For comparison, Tom Landry was 74 years old when he coached his last game with the Cowboys. Landry's last three seasons all ended with losing records.

The game had clearly passed Landry by.

Belichick's last two seasons in New England were also losing seasons. The game clearly passed Belichick.

So no, Belichick is not the answer.

Bill Parcells was 62 years old when he took over Dallas and managed to be successful three of the four seasons he spent in Dallas.

But at 66 he had enough and retired.

In other words: No, the Cowboys' next coach cannot and should not be another retread. Nor should it be any other type preferred by Jones.

Just say no, man

Jones just loves surrounding himself with yes-men, always has, but it's only gotten worse over the years.

This is even more true when it comes to selecting his head coaches.

Since saying that “500 coaches could coach the Cowboys,” Jones has searched for just one who could do so with the players he personally selected.

Barry Switzer's Super Bowl was won with Jimmy Johnson's players. In fact, one could argue that the third Super Bowl was won despite Switzer's presence on the sidelines.

Switzer was the first yes man Jones wanted under his thumb.

Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy were all yes men. Even Parcells was one when he reached Dallas.

Jones has spent nearly 30 years trying to prove he was behind the Cowboys' success, and all he's proven is that he's blind to his own flaws.

That's why the Cowboys continue to lag behind.

So no, another makeover, yeah man, head coach isn't what's needed. What's needed requires Jones to do the impossible: admit he's been completely wrong for nearly three decades.

What will heal the Cowboys?

More than one comment on social media in recent days has made the same point: As long as Jones lives, he will own the team. As long as Jones owns the team, he remains the GM.

Jones just celebrated his 82nd birthday^nd Birthday. So if he's not a vampire, at least we know the nightmare will end sooner or later.

Although it probably means we have a few more seasons of GM Jones to live through.

Because the first thing the Cowboys desperately need is a general manager who knows how to build a championship team. Said person knows when to pull the trigger on signings and trading free agents for higher quality players.

Not someone who enjoys picking at the bottom of the bargain bin.

Someone who can stay within the salary cap by not overpaying players who don't make it.

The GM also hired a head coach and coordinators with new, innovative approaches to the game. Coaches who can adapt on the fly and get the best out of their players on a weekly basis.

This is the reason for the sixth Lombardi Trophy to call Dallas home.

Miracles on the way of the cowboys

If this season does indeed unravel and McCarthy's run comes to an end, it will be interesting to see which direction Jones decides to take.

Does he repeat the same pattern over and over again? The one that has brought nothing but bitter disappointment because it's already had 30 seasons?

Or will he finally have an epiphany and realize that the Cowboys will never win a Super Bowl until he gets out of their way?

Either way, we'll find out in about three months.