Longtime Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was stunned after his team’s Jan. 14 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“This is beyond my comprehension,” he added.
“I thought that we were aligned and in great shape, but it didn’t happen for us.”
“Didn’t see that coming at all,” Mr. Jones said. “If you had told me (before the game) that we had scored 32 points, I would have thought we had won.”
When asked about head coach Mike McCarthy’s future at the organization, “I haven’t thought one second,” he said.
Earlier this week, the team owner said that Mr. McCarthy is under contract for the 2024 season.
As for Mr. McCarthy, the coach also appeared stunned after the loss.
“I think the biggest thing is we’re disappointed,” he replied when asked whether he thinks he will remain as the team’s head coach. “I got a whole team in the locker room that’s hurting. I haven’t thought past the outcome of this game.”
The Cowboys, who were 12-6 for the season after the Jan. 14 loss, have had three, consecutive 12-win seasons and playoff trips in four years under Mr. McCarthy.
He was hired to coach Dallas after 12 seasons in Green Bay because of his ability to get the Packers deep into the playoffs. In 2011, his Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Quarterback Defends His Coach
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott defended Mr. McCarthy’s coaching after the game. The All-Pro quarterback threw two interceptions, including one that was run back for a touchdown by the Packers’ Darnell Savage in the second quarter.“I’ve had the season that I’ve had because of him,” said Mr. Prescott of his coach.
“This team has had the success that they’ve had because of him. I understand it’s about winning the Super Bowl. That’s the standard of this league and [darn] sure the standard of this place. I get it, but add me to the list, in that case.”
“We had it all lined up three hours ago,” he added. “This is the last place that anybody in this organization, especially in our locker room, would have thought that we were going to be. That’s why I keep using the words ‘shocked’ or ‘stunned.’”
And regarding Mr. Prescott’s future with the team, Mr. Jones gave a similar answer.
“My complete thoughts for the last several weeks have totally been around anticipating and planning on advancing from this game to another game here at the stadium since we found out we were going to have this home field.”
Mr. Prescott is reportedly signed through the 2024 season and is slated to count about $59 million against the Cowboys salary cap.
Green Bay (10-8) will now visit the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers (12-5) in the NFC divisional round this coming weekend.
