After a period of speculation, Mike McCarthy will not be returning to the Dallas Cowboys.

The coach and the organization have decided to part ways instead of discussing a contract extension, as stated by the team on Monday.

“During Mike McCarthy’s time with us, especially in recent weeks, I have praised the work he has done,” said owner Jerry Jones in a statement. “This appraisal reflects our record during this time, our team unity and culture, Mike’s qualifications and history of success, and, on a personal level, he is a great human being. I hold Mike in high regard, and he has navigated some very unique and challenging periods during his time here.”

Jones mentioned that he had spent the last week reflecting on the past season with McCarthy, but “before we got to the stage of contract talks, it became clear to both of us that it would be best to go our separate ways.”

The Cowboys will start looking for a new head coach “immediately,” said Jones.

McCarthy is now free to interview for other coaching roles after the Cowboys turned down the Chicago Bears’ request last week to discuss their coaching vacancy with him.

McCarthy finished his time with the Cowboys with a record of 49-35 and three playoff appearances over five seasons, including a 7-10 record in his final year.

With rumors that he might seek another position due to his expiring contract, McCarthy expressed a desire to stay with Dallas after their Week 18 defeat to the Washington Commanders.

“Absolutely. I have a lot invested here, and the Cowboys have invested a lot in me,” McCarthy stated. “Additionally, there’s a personal aspect to all these choices. They all point in a positive direction. When you put in your time, energy, belief, and the relationships you’ve built here, and your understanding of what the organization can achieve and how far it’s willing to go, those are all positive factors to consider.”

McCarthy’s position had been under examination for nearly a year, as Jerry Jones opted to retain him for the last year of his contract despite a significant wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers the previous January. He did not offer an extension and indicated that the franchise would be “all in” for the 2024 season after three successive seasons with 12 wins that did not lead to the team ending a 28-year struggle to reach the NFC championship game.

However, the Cowboys faced serious challenges early in the season, with their remarkable 16-game home winning streak in regular season games shattered by five losses at AT&T Stadium. The 47-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions in Week 6 marked the largest margin of loss in a home game during Jones’ ownership.

Injuries significantly impacted the team, affecting key players such as linebacker Micah Parsons, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, who missed large portions of the season. After quarterback Dak Prescott underwent season-ending surgery in early November due to a partially torn hamstring, many anticipated a downward spiral that ultimately saw Dallas fall to 3-7.

Yet, the Cowboys managed to win four out of five games following this, reviving the possibility that McCarthy might stay with the team.

Throughout the fall and winter, Jones expressed support for McCarthy, but he never fully committed to him as the head coach.

This story has been updated with new information.