Mike McCarthy’s future as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys is looking bleak.
Sunday’s disastrous 48-32 wild-card loss to the Packers at AT&T Stadium might’ve put the nail in the coffin for the Cowboys’ head coach.
“Throughout this season, sources believed Cowboys’ HC Mike McCarthy always would be judged by how Dallas’ last game of the season went,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in a post on X.
If that’s the case, McCarthy may not be long for Dallas.
The defeat, which was a bigger mismatch than the final score indicates, snapped a 16-game win streak at home for the Cowboys — and marked Dallas’ first time allowing 40-plus points in a playoff game.
McCarthy, who has one more year left on his contract, said he was “hurting and disappointed” after the loss.
“I think the biggest thing is we’re disappointed,” McCarthy said. “I’ve got a whole team in the locker room that’s hurting. I haven’t thought past the outcome of this game.
“I don’t think anyone saw this coming. We didn’t get it done in any of the phases.”
The Cowboys are the first team in NFL history to win 12 games in three straight seasons and failed to make the conference championship.
McCarthy is 1-3 in the playoffs in those three seasons.
“Many people around the league are on high alert with this job, believing that McCarthy’s status may be up in the air after the playoff loss,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Monday.
It was Dallas’13th straight playoff appearance without reaching a conference championship.
The Packers ran circles around the Cowboys and ran up a 27-7 lead at halftime.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finished 41 of 60 for 403 yards with three touchdowns — but that was mostly in garbage time.
It was Prescott’s second straight playoff game with multiple interceptions.
He is now 2-5 in his career.
Prescott’s future in Dallas also might be in jeopardy after he said he “sucked tonight” in his postgame press conference.
“Just shocked honestly,” Prescott said, adding he was “stunned” at how the Cowboys’ season ended.
He also backed McCarthy, who he credited for his success this season — during which he led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in the regular season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was also in disbelief after Dallas’ collapse.
“I’m floored,” he said. “… This is beyond my comprehension.”
Jones said he hasn’t “thought one second” about McCarthy’s future, and that he’s unsure when the two will meet.
“I give a lot to today,” Jones said when asked about how much the loss will weigh on his decision. “I’ll give a lot to everything we’ve done.”
Prescott has one season remaining on his four-year, $160 million contract.
The Cowboys reportedly have prioritized doing a contract extension for Prescott.
Prescott threw two interceptions — including a pick-six — in a three-possession stretch that saw the Packers lead go from 7-0 to 27-0 in the first half.
The Cowboys haven’t reached an NFC Championship Game since their most recent Super Bowl win in 1996.
Green Bay (10-8) will visit the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round on Saturday.