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Mike McCarthy came up with a different theme for the Dallas Cowboys in the year 2020. With McCarthy returning for a fifth season, the head coach might not have to think about the 2024 theme. McCarthy signed a five-year deal with the Cowboys in 2020, but there was no word of an extension when he met with Jones on Wednesday. It is all or nothing for the final year of the contract of the quarterback who is also going to be entering the final year. The Cowboys have time to work on a contract extension for quarterback, but he will count almost $60 million against the salary cap. Without an extension or the addition of voidable years to his contract, it would be difficult for the Cowboys to add free agents or retain their own key players. The Cowboys would have to weigh the importance of signing him to a deal that would make him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the game, without proven playoff success, while also knowing they can't place the franchise tag on him. Why keep McCarthy if he has won two titles in the past three seasons? With McCarthy calling plays for the first time in his tenure with the Cowboys, Prescott responded with his best season, leading the NFL in touchdown passes, despite missing five games with a broken thumb. The Cowboys have made the playoffs in three of the last four years and haven't done so in a decade. McCarthy became the first coach in team history to post three straight 12-win seasons, though some of that is due to playing a 17-game schedule. McCarthy has lost in the first round of the playoffs twice, including Sunday's 48-32 embarrassment against the Green Bay Packers. It was kept quiet if there was any consideration to make a change. Jones could have made overtures to either Bill or Jim, who both won six Super Bowls with the New England and San Francisco teams, respectively. Another option would have been the former TennesseeTitans coach. Since trading up in the first round to take Morris Claiborne and signing Brandon Carr in free agency, Jones has not made a major move. He wants to win another championship, but he wouldn't have made a play for an up-and-coming offensive coach like Ben Johnson or Bobby Slowik. He knows a thing or two about learning the ropes, and that's why he can't wait for a young coach. The Cowboys could be looking for a defensive assistant in a matter of days or weeks if Dan is interviewing with five teams. Do the Cowboys have a defensive coach who is ready to become the head coach, such as Joe Whitt Jr., who has been the defensive passing game coach since 2020, or a secondary coach like Al Harris? The position coach who is unsigned is Robert Prince, who was with the New York Giants. McCarthy's original deal is matched by every other position coach.