Dallas Cowboys News: Amid Sean Payton Rumors, Jerry Jones Backs Mike McCarthy

Jerry Jones insists he has confidence in Mike McCarthy.

The Dallas Cowboys owner told reporters Tuesday that he believes in his head coach, despite speculation that McCarthy might not have the greatest job security in the NFL.

There have been rumors that Jones could be eyeing Sean Payton to eventually replace McCarthy since the former New Orleans Saints head coach called it quits earlier this year. On the first day of the Cowboys' training camp, Jones was adamant that McCarthy is the best man for the job.

“One of the issues I want to address directly because I guess it’s the one that probably have the most sensitivity about, and that is Mike and him coaching,” Jones said at Tuesday’s press conference.

“And I want to be real clear — he wouldn’t be sitting here today if I didn’t think he was the man to lead this team to a Super Bowl. He would not be. And I have choices.

“So that’s not meant to be insensitive to anybody, that’s a fact. And so you guys write about a lot of those choices and they were there for my use had I wanted them. And no, the guy to my right is who I’m convicted about. Have been. We certainly have had things we’ve addressed and the way we’ve addressed them in the offseason, I think we have successfully put together a staff that really, from this vantage point, gives us absolutely the best chance — with our makeup and our team — to get to the ultimate success. So I want to be real clear about that.”

Jerry Jones on what will determine if this year’s Cowboys team had a successful season: “I need to win it (all). We need to be in the playoffs. We need to be viable in the playoffs to have a successful season.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 26, 2022

#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says there hasn’t been a contract extension for Mike McCarthy but makes it clear there are years past this one in his current contract.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 26, 2022

The Cowboys won the NFC East title last season with a 12-5 record before suffering a home loss in their first playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. Dallas missed the postseason in McCarthy’s first season with the team, though Dak Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury was the main cause for their 6-10 record.

After Dallas was eliminated from last year’s playoffs, there was speculation that McCarthy could be in trouble. The Cowboys brought the head coach back for a third season, hoping to contend for a Super Bowl.

The Cowboys led the NFL in total yards and points scored during the 2021 season. Dallas last won a playoff game in the 2018 season. It’s been 27 years since the Cowboys reached the NFC Championship Game.

Dallas is favored to repeat as the NFC East champs. If the Cowboys get off to a slow start, the chatter about Payton’s potential future in Dallas will only continue.

Payton was the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach from 2003-2005. He left to become the head coach of New Orleans in 2006. Payton won a Super Bowl and established himself as one of the best coaches in the NFL.

McCarthy has multiple years left on his contract.