An NFL insider revealed the one big error Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys made by letting Mike McCarthy‘s contract expire. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports said the Cowboys will have to wait to interview a coach who is currently with a team in the playoffs since they missed the window to interview them.

“Because the Cowboys waited a week to move on from Mike McCarthy, Jerry Jones also missed the window to request interviews with candidates on a bye, like Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn,” Schultz wrote on X. “If Dallas wants to talk to them, they’ll now have to wait until Detroit’s season ends.”

McCarthy’s contract expired last Wednesday, but the Cowboys held an exclusive negotiating window with him until Tuesday at midnight. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints are expected to be interested in McCarthy for their head coaching vacancies.

The Cowboys hired McCarthy in 2020, and he had a 49-35 record in five seasons. But during that time, the Cowboys won just one playoff game and never played in a NFC Championship game.

In 2024, the Cowboys began the year with a 3-2 record but suffered five straight losses and lost multiple key players due to injuries, including quarterback Dak Prescott, offensive lineman Zack Martin and defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence. Dallas finished the 2024 season with a 7-10 record.

“Over the past week, Mike and I had the opportunity to conduct a joint review of all aspects of the past season, our players and staff, and also spent considerable time discussing the road forward for the team. These discussions were thorough and received an appropriate amount of time and depth to cover, Jerry Jones said in a statement. “Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction. I thank Mike and wish him, his wife Jessica and their family the best. They have been a wonderful part of our community here.”

The Cowboys will look to hire their 10th head coach in franchise history and sixth since 2000. The last time the Cowboys played in a Super Bowl was when Barry Switzer was the head coach during the 1995 season.