Judging by Jerry Jones’ body language, it’s clear he has great admiration for Mike McCarthy following the Dallas Cowboys’ unexpected victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday night. Instead of just a handshake or a simple congratulatory gesture, Jones gave McCarthy a hearty bear hug in the jubilant locker room, indicating strong rapport.

McCarthy deserves the credit. Despite knowing they were officially out of the NFL playoff race before the game, the Cowboys played with remarkable intensity against a team that needed a win to secure its position in the NFC South. After Dak Prescott’s season ended prematurely in November due to a torn hamstring, there were no accusations of the Cowboys giving up. They’ve won four out of their last five games, altering perceptions of McCarthy’s precarious “lame duck” status as he navigates the final year of his five-year contract. His popularity, so to speak, is rising.

Following a series of disappointing seasons and explosive losses, including a significant defeat to the Detroit Lions on Jones’ birthday and a disastrous playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, it’s refreshing for Jones to display a different demeanor after a game. It’s been a while since he’s had the chance to do so.

This moment is a stark change from the ongoing speculation about McCarthy’s job security. Just months ago, during his regular radio show, Jones questioned McCarthy’s tactics, and each week, fans and media alike pressed him on the coach’s future. Back in late March, Jones notably increased the pressure on McCarthy, who is now 61, by not extending his contract.

According to Jones, “Most of America gets up and they don’t have anything guaranteed down the road.”

While Jones remained tight-lipped about McCarthy’s prospects on Sunday night, and his son Stephen, the team’s COO, did not dispel any rumors during his radio show, McCarthy has certainly made his case by keeping the Cowboys competitive. Even with Prescott’s injury and other key players sidelined, the Cowboys (currently 7-8) still have a chance at finishing the season with a winning record. McCarthy also has support from Prescott and star linebacker Micah Parsons.

Since McCarthy joined the Cowboys in 2020, the hope was that he would lead them further than Jason Garrett did, but they have not been to the NFC Championship game in 29 years. Continuity could be key in changing that trend. If they decide to move on from McCarthy, they would be starting over with their eighth coach in 32 years since parting ways with Jimmy Johnson, who led the team to two Super Bowl victories.

“All I can say is he’s doing an excellent job,” Jerry Jones mentioned to reporters after the game. “I’m not sharing any thoughts about future plans until the season concludes.”

After last season, it took Jones three days of serious thought before confirming that McCarthy would return for another season—albeit without a contract extension. Similar uncertainty could resurface in mid-January.

A new twist could emerge: McCarthy might choose to leave and explore coaching opportunities elsewhere.

While it remains to be seen if Jones will believe that bringing in another coach would improve the team beyond McCarthy’s performance, what if McCarthy, finishing his contract, feels overwhelmed by the demanding nature of coaching one of the NFL’s most spotlighted franchises?

With his credentials, including a Super Bowl championship with the Packers and multiple successful seasons with the Cowboys, McCarthy could be an attractive candidate in the coaching market.

Last season, Bill Belichick was expected to be a top candidate, yet only the Atlanta Falcons interviewed him among the teams looking for a new coach. However, McCarthy might be regarded differently due to his offensive expertise and without the intense front office influence that Belichick had.

He has also demonstrated seriousness about his future by hiring a new representative, Don Yee, who notably helped Jim Harbaugh return to the NFL and has represented Tom Brady for many years. Yee was also pivotal in introducing Brady for potential ownership roles.

So far, the Cowboys have had minimal interaction with Yee, primarily a brief meeting with Stephen Jones prior to training camp in California, indicating that substantial discussions regarding a McCarthy extension have yet to take place.

While Jerry Jones still possesses significant influence over McCarthy’s future with the Cowboys, he may not hold all the cards as the coaching landscape evolves.

In a few weeks, McCarthy might attract interest from other teams in search of a rare coaching free agent. The Chicago Bears, who are focusing on building around their No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams, could be a team to watch. The New Orleans Saints, where McCarthy started his coaching career in 2000, may also be a possibility. Furthermore, the New York Jets are likely to reassess their coaching situation, regardless of whether McCarthy’s former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, returns.

And by mid-January, historical patterns suggest there will be developments to keep an eye on.

It’s likely that there will be additional head coach vacancies in a league that usually sees at least six openings during each hiring period.

Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, is expected to be a sought-after candidate once more. Additionally, it’s reasonable to assume that Aaron Glenn, who manages the Lions’ defense, will also generate interest. However, if McCarthy becomes available, he could easily rise to the top of many teams’ wish lists.

Regarding Dallas, a comment made by McCarthy last spring during NFL meetings stands out. He expressed that he was more focused on the well-being of his assistant coaches, who are also in the final year of their contracts, rather than on his own future. This concern also extends to their families. If given the opportunity to remain with the team, McCarthy might consider this, particularly given his connection with quarterback Prescott and the rapport he seems to have developed within the locker room.

It’s possible that he has also acclimated to the commotion that often accompanies the Cowboys. While McCarthy is certainly aware of the extensive resources that team owner Jerry Jones has at his disposal (the Cowboys recently became the first franchise to surpass a valuation of $10 billion, according to Forbes), it’s perplexing that despite Jones’s proclamation of being “all in” for a championship run this season, the Cowboys took an unusually passive approach last offseason.

Significant contracts for players like CeeDee Lamb and Prescott were not finalized until late in training camp and the beginning of the regular season, respectively. Furthermore, the Cowboys were largely inactive in free agency, missing opportunities to acquire new talent or retain existing players.

It’s no surprise that there’s been chatter surrounding the notion that the Cowboys may have intentionally positioned McCarthy for failure in what could be his last season.

With the Cowboys, there’s always something brewing.

It also seems that the story may not be over for McCarthy—at least not without more Dallas drama unfolding.