Cowboys' Prescott: Speculation about McCarthy's job security is 'comical'

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was in disbelief Friday when reporters asked whether Mike McCarthy would be coaching for his job in Monday's wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"It's comical, in a sense," Prescott said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "First, what back-to-back 12-win (seasons) in y'all tell me how long, and we're talking about a guy's job in jeopardy? That just shows you, when you play for this organization, what comes with it."

Since joining the franchise three seasons ago, McCarthy has posted a 30-20 record. He capped his 2022 campaign with a 12-5 regular-season mark. The 59-year-old head coach has two years remaining on his contract.

Prescott said the implication that McCarthy's job is on the line reinforces the need to create a "safe place" in the locker room.

"What matters is the men that go out there and get in between the lines and put the work in throughout the week for us to go out and win," he added.

Team owner Jerry Jones said earlier this week that McCarthy wouldn't be on the hot seat if the Cowboys lost to the Buccaneers in the opening round.

Dallas is attempting to buck several trends in its upcoming postseason contest. The club is 0-7 against Tom Brady and hasn't advanced past the divisional round since 1995. The franchise also hasn't won a road playoff matchup since the NFC Championship Game in 1992.

McCarthy recently showed the team 10 baby pictures of players who were alive when the Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers to usher in their impressive run during the 1990s.

"This is about our opportunity," McCarthy said, per Archer. "It's about what's in front of us."

Dallas will look to avenge its season-opening loss to the Buccaneers. Prescott sustained a thumb injury during the contest and was replaced by Cooper Rush.