Since the turn of the millennium, the Cowboys have had five head coaches. None of them have reached the NFC Championship game. Here is the honest assessment of each.
1. Bill Parcells (2003-2006) — Record: 34-32 Parcells brought credibility and discipline to a franchise that had become a laughingstock under Dave Campo (15-33 in 3 years). He drafted DeMarcus Ware, drafted Tony Romo, and built the foundation of the next decade's competitive teams. Grade: B. Stabilized the franchise but never broke through to the postseason consistently.
2. Wade Phillips (2007-2010) — Record: 34-22 before firing Phillips inherited Parcells' roster and had immediate success. The 2007 team started 12-1 before a late collapse. The 2009 team won a playoff game. But the wheels fell off in 2010 with a 1-7 start that led to his mid-season firing. Grade: B-minus. Great defensive mind, overwhelmed by the head coaching responsibilities.
3. Jason Garrett (2010-2019) — Record: 85-67 The most polarizing coach in Cowboys history. Three playoff appearances in 9.5 seasons. The 2014 and 2016 teams were legitimate contenders. But the consistent inability to win in January defined his tenure. Grade: C-plus. Consistent but never great. The definition of good enough to keep but not good enough to win.
4. Mike McCarthy (2020-2024) — Record: 49-35 McCarthy brought a Super Bowl pedigree from Green Bay. The regular season results were strong but the playoff record of 1-3 told the real story. The 2023 wild card loss to Green Bay (48-32) was the beginning of the end. Grade: C-plus. Same story as Garrett with slightly better regular season results.
5. Current Coach (2025-present) Too early to evaluate fully. The 2025 season at 8-9 was a transition year with a new system and significant roster turnover. Grade: Incomplete.
The common thread: Every coach since 2000 has been good enough to win 9-10 games regularly but unable to break through in the postseason. The question is whether that is a coaching problem or a structural problem with how the franchise operates.
Sources:
- Pro Football Reference — coaching records
- Dallas Morning News — coaching coverage 2000-2026
Garrett at C-plus is generous. Nine and a half years and one playoff win. The clapping memes exist for a reason. Source: my wasted Sundays from 2011 to 2019.