The Dallas Cowboys might be 3-5-1 coming out of the bye week, but their record isn't a reflection of the job Brian Schottenheimer has done in his first year as a head coach. That isn’t to say Schottenheimer has been perfect, but his playbook and offensive philosophy have been a revelation compared to Mike McCarthy’s.
It's clear that the Cowboys have upgraded, but it was still a surprise that McCarthy didn't get a job after he was dismissed by Dallas.
It certainly didn't help McCarthy's chances that Jerry Jones waited almost a week after the season ended to move on from McCarthy, but he figures to be back coaching in some capacity in 2026.