Mike McCarthy will not return as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, who are approaching three decades since their last Super Bowl title.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed the news on Monday. “I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure,” Jones said, adding that the team and McCarthy had mutually agreed to part ways.

The coach’s contract expired following a 7-10 season. Dallas were 12-5 in each of the three years before that, but still haven’t been past the divisional round of the NFC playoffs since their last Super Bowl at the end of the 1995 season.

McCarthy’s contract expired on 8 January and the Cowboys had an exclusive negotiation window through Tuesday. At least one other NFL team asked during that time about talking to the 61-year-old coach, who won a Super Bowl with Green Bay.

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