Troy Aikman expects Mike McCarthy to return as Cowboys coach in 2025

The moment Jerry Jones announced in the offseason that the Cowboys weren't extending the contract of Mike McCarthy was the moment it felt like the coach was entering his final season in Dallas. The entire coaching staff is in the final year of their contracts.

The Cowboys, though, have continued to play hard for McCarthy and now are two wins from .500 despite numerous injuries, including a season-ending hamstring for quarterback Dak Prescott.

Thus, McCarthy's return for next season appears more likely than it did a week, two weeks or six months ago.

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, who is broadcasting tonight's game for ESPN, said on 105.3 The Fan that he expects McCarthy back in Dallas next season.

"Short of Bill Belichick, I don't know who you're going to bring in that has a better resume," Aikman said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. "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.

"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."

McCarthy won a Super Bowl with the Packers, and he led the Cowboys to back-to-back-to-back 12-win seasons the previous three seasons.

The question is: Does McCarthy want to return? He could choose to become a free agent and leave for somewhere else with a front office that will use free agency to help improve the roster.

He is 47-32 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason in his five seasons in Dallas.