DALLAS COWBOYS

After months of speculation, Mike McCarthy won’t return to the Dallas Cowboys.

With McCarthy’s contract set to expire Tuesday, the coach and the team will part ways rather than work to pursue an extension, two people with knowledge of the decision told USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because neither side had yet disclosed the resolution. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first to report the news.

McCarthy now will be free to interview with other teams after the Cowboys denied the Chicago Bears’ request last week to speak with the coach about their vacancy.

McCarthy ended his Cowboys tenure with a 49-35 record and three postseason appearances in five seasons, including a 7-10 mark in his final year.

Amid speculation that he could pursue a job with another franchise given his expiring contract, McCarthy said after the Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders that he preferred to remain with Dallas.

All things Cowboys: Latest Dallas Cowboys news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

“Absolutely. I have a lot invested here, and the Cowboys have a lot invested in me,” McCarthy said. “And then there’s a personal side to all these decisions. They all point the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, energy, your belief, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what the organization can do and is willing to do. Those are all positive attributes that you take into account.”

McCarthy’s standing had been under scrutiny for nearly a year, as Jerry Jones opted to bring the coach back for the final season of his contract despite a blowout wild-card loss last January to the Green Bay Packers. But he offered no extension and declared that the franchise would be “all in” for 2024 after three consecutive 12-win seasons failed to result in the team breaking what was then a 28-year drought of reaching the NFC championship game.

Yet the Cowboys were dealt major blows early on, as the organization’s 16-game home winning streak in the regular season gave way to five losses at AT&T Stadium to start the season. The 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 6 was the greatest deficit in a home contest in Jones’ tenure as owner.

Injuries also took a significant toll, with linebacker Micah Parsons, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs among those to miss significant stretches of time. When quarterback Dak Prescott underwent season-ending surgery in early November for a partially torn hamstring, many expected the team would extend a skid that eventually dropped Dallas to 3-7.

But the Cowboys would go on to win four of their next five, stirring speculation that McCarthy could remain with the franchise.

Jones was largely complementary of McCarthy throughout the fall and winter, though he stopped short of ever making a commitment to him.

This story has been updated with new information.