«As far as my relationship with Jerry…we’re in a great position. The partnership that we have, he’s thrilled,» McCarthy said Thursday, via USA Today’s Tyler Dragon. “He told me several times this week that he wanted me to coach here as long as coach (Tom) Landry did. I said, ‘OK, it’s been a long time.’ I feel really good about our relationship. I think our ability to argue and disagree, we’re doing a good job of that. I think it’s important.»
It’s interesting that Jones picked Landry to compare his head coaches — he also did with Jason Garrett — given that it was Jones who fired Landry, ending his 29-year run with the Cowboys.
McCarthy, 59, would have to coach the Cowboys until he was 85 to match Landry’s run. Only two of the eight coaches Jones has hired since taking over Team USA have lasted longer than four seasons (Jimmy Johnson, Jason Garrett), underscoring the hyperbole in any McCarthy-Landry comparison.
With McCarthy announcing changes to his staff and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn returning to Dallas, the head coach’s job looks secure for another season. McCarthy may not have lost his job, but that won’t take him out of the hot seat until he brings home a Lombardi trophy to Dallas.