Speculation that Sean Peyton will one day coach the Dallas Cowboys has been a popular topic since the Super Bowl winner resigned from the New Orleans Saints.
The current Cowboys coach, Mike McCarthy, does not want to participate in this discussion.
“This is a story I don’t want to participate in,” McCarthy told the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, according to the team’s official website. “I don’t think anyone wants to be a part of it – on either side of the fence. Honestly, Sean is being asked questions. Nothing good comes of it.”
After the Cowboys lost in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers, owner Jerry Jones rejected discussions about the future of McCarthy and his team. When Peyton left the Saints, speculation that the former Dallas assistant, who Jones had repeatedly tried to run his club, was mounting.
“But I think you have to understand that I spend a lot of time with Jerry, both as an owner and as a GM,” McCarthy said. “In our conversations, you talk about the partnership between the head coach and GM, these are the conversations I have. The power of partnership, what lies ahead. We have big decisions to make for the list. He turned to him. We laughed at that and moved on. This really is the place. It’s something that outsiders can talk about, but I don’t see it as a topic or something that hinders victory. “
The only way McCarthy can really put an end to talks about his job status and the opportunity for Peyton to eventually take over is for the Cowboys to win big in 2022. Anything but a trip to the Super Bowl will lead to a new round of speculation next off-season.