McCarthy’s five-year contract with the club ended in the wake of the team’s 23-19 loss to Washington to end the regular season. But the veteran coach’s contract contains an exclusive negotiating window with the Cowboys that doesn’t expire until Tuesday.

Mike McCarthy’s job with the team is very much undecided with his contract expiring in less than a week. But as ESPN reported Thursday, the “future” was on the table during a recent discussion between the Super Bowl-winning coach and team owner Jerry Jones.

The Dallas Cowboys are dragging on the decision to keep head coach Mike McCarthy. However, McCarthy could make the decision for them.

Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy sat down to talk Tuesday. Later in the day, the Cowboys denied Chicago’s request to interview McCarthy for its head coaching vacancy. The two are related, based on what two people with knowledge of the impending discussions told The Dallas Morning News after the Bears made their request.

On Tuesday, the Cowboys denied a request from the Chicago Bears to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. Now one day later, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that talks between McCarthy and the Cowboys are ongoing, a sign they want to continue to work together.

Mike McCarthy has often been the fall guy for this Dallas Cowboys team. This offseason, he could send a message back to Jerry Jones and Co. if he plays his cards right.

Much has been made on sports talk shows and among other NFL pundits about the supposed ‘mess’ that is the Dallas Cowboys handling of the Mike McCarthy head coach question. There is plenty of talk about Dallas mistreating Mike McCarthy by not making a decision,

Mike McCarthy's contract with the Cowboys is about to expire. Here's the timeline fans need to know about a decision on the head coach.

Mike McCarthy will have several options if he doesn't return to the Dallas Cowboys, with the head coach being linked to another NFC team not named the Bears.