NFL great Troy Aikman slams Cowboys over Mike McCarthy departure

Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman had some harsh words for the Dallas Cowboys after the team parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday.

McCarthy and the Cowboys split after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on contract length, according to multiple reports. McCarthy’s deal was set to expire on Tuesday, and the Cowboys will have gotten into the head-coaching carousel a little later than expected.

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Troy Aikman looks on prior to a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 7, 2024. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

Aikman broke down the move on Monday night.

“I thought Mike McCarthy would be the head coach, so this is a bit of a surprise for me today that he’s not going to be … It suggests that there’s not a real plan,” he said before calling the playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.

“I do think the Cowboys are obviously a high-profile team. Whoever is the head coach of that team is certainly going to draw a lot of attention, but I think most football people that take over as a head coach they want to do it on their terms and that’s hard to do.

“I love the Dallas Cowboys. I played there for 12 years. I wish them well. To say that it’s a coveted job, I’m not sure I would necessarily agree with that.”

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

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Aikman said it seemed “logical” that former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore would be a candidate for the head-coaching job. However, he made clear that anyone who came into the position may not be themselves exactly.

McCarthy became the head coach of the Cowboys before the 2020 season, taking over for Jason Garrett, who had spent 10 years at the helm. Though McCarthy went 6-10 in his first season, he saw some success when the team was healthy.

Dallas was 12-5 and won two division titles from 2021 to 2023. The team made the playoffs each year but failed to get back to the NFC Championship, which has eluded them since they last won the Super Bowl in 1995.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy answers questions during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

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The Cowboys saw Dak Prescott’s 2024 season end early, and the team could not recover. The Cowboys were 7-10.

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