“There have been no negotiations yet and still are other issues to work through,” Pelissero wrote on X. “McCarthy’s contract is set to expire Tuesday, giving Dallas a few more days to work out a deal. Otherwise, McCarthy would be free to pursue other opportunities.”

McCarthy is available to pursue other opportunities this coming Tuesday when his contract officially expires. The Chicago Bears requested permission earlier this week to interview McCarthy about their head coach opening, which Dallas declined to grant.

Time is now of the essence for both sides, as McCarthy will need time to assemble his staff in Dallas should they bring him back. The same is true for McCarthy if he lands elsewhere.

The Cowboys failed to make the playoffs in a season which team owner Jerry Jones said they were “all-in.” With inconsistent play and a long list of injuries to key players, Dallas’ season is over early for the first time since McCarthy’s first season at the helm in 2020.

He has since led the Cowboys to three playoff appearances and two NFC East division titles.

Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy meet for ‘significant time’ this week

Jones met with McCarthy for “significant time” on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. Fellow insider Adam Schefter added that while McCarthy and Jones have been in communication, he doesn’t get the sense that a deal is close to being worked out.

“And so this is a situation that looks like it will go down to the wire to see whether Dallas and Mike McCarthy can figure out a solution to any differences they have, or whether Mike McCarthy does become a free agent, and then does interview in Chicago and New Orleans and some of the other places that would have an interest in speaking with him,” Schefter said Thursday.

Ultimately, this is for Jones and McCarthy to work out. But another important person in the building — quarterback Dak Prescott — previously advocated for McCarthy to return under a new contract.

“I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott told Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports last month. “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously. But I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it. But I wholeheartedly believe in him.”