Troy Aikman expects Mike McCarthy to be Dallas Cowboys head coach in 2025

Mike McCarthy entered the 2024 season in the final year of his contract. A lot of doubt over his future with Dallas has been voiced, at least from the outside. Results have not been too kind either as the Cowboys enter Monday Night Football vs. Cincinnati with a 5-7 record.

Even so, franchise legend Troy Aikman believes McCarthy will return to Dallas for the 2025 season. Aikman is adamant that the Cowboys are not too far away from being competitive, especially without a top-level quarterback. McCarthy returning along with Dak Prescott is something Aikman likes for the future.

“Short of Bill Belichick, I don’t know who you’re going to bring in that has a better resume,” Aikman said. “…I just feel that for a team that I really do not think is that far away. …I like the way this team is playing right now, even without their franchise quarterback.”

Belichick might not even be available to hire. He is reportedly in talks with North Carolina over his first-ever job in college football. A move not many would have predicted heading into the offseason. While nothing has been made official, NFL teams may not have an opportunity to hire one of the biggest names out there.

So Aikman goes back to McCarthy where there appears to be a ton of faith in the current head coach. Prescott has publicly supported him returning, as has defensive star Micah Parsons. People inside the Dallas locker room want to reset, have McCarthy return, and make another run to a Super Bowl.

“I sense that it’s a team that really believes in Mike McCarthy. I feel the locker room wants him back. I think he’s a really good football coach. I believe Jerry Jones thinks he’s a really good football coach, too. … As we stand and talk right now, I expect Mike McCarthy to be back in 2025.”