Editing Mike McCarthy (section)

==== 2021 ====
[[File:Mike Mccarthy 2021 (cropped).jpg|thumb|McCarthy in 2021]]
McCarthy was fined $50,000 by the NFL on July 1, 2021, for violating practice rules during organized team activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wagoner |first1=Nick |last2=Archer |first2=Todd |last3=DiRocco |first3=Michael |date=July 1, 2021 |title=NFL fines San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys for OTA violations |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31745995/nfl-fines-san-francisco-49ers-jacksonville-jaguars-dallas-cowboys-ota-violations |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> As a result of the fine, McCarthy said in a statement the majority of the seven to nine plays the NFL discussed with him involved younger players.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Crabtree|first=Curtis|date=July 22, 2021|title=Mike McCarthy says Cowboys trying to do things right way after practice penalties|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/07/22/mike-mccarthy-says-cowboys-trying-to-do-things-right-way-after-practice-penalties/|access-date=September 16, 2021|work=ProFootballTalk}}</ref>

From July through September 2021, McCarthy and the Cowboys were featured on the HBO sports documentary ''[[Hard Knocks (documentary series)|Hard Knocks]]''. The experience, which McCarthy called “a good one,” involved a large camera crew filming the entirety of Cowboys training camp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Todd |date=September 3, 2021 |title=McCarthy eager to 'be more genuine' leading up to Cowboys' opener with 'Hard Knocks' crew gone |url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/03/mike-mccarthy-eager-to-be-more-genuine-leading-up-to-cowboys-opener-with-hard-knocks-crew-gone/ |access-date=September 16, 2021 |work=Cowboys Wire |publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 4, 2021|title=Alone again: Mike McCarthy finds silver lining in end of Cowboys' 'Hard Knocks' experience|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2021/09/03/alone-again-mike-mccarthy-finds-silver-lining-in-end-of-cowboys-hard-knocks-experience/|access-date=September 16, 2021|work=Dallas News}}</ref>

For the [[2021 Dallas Cowboys season|2021 season]], McCarthy guided the team to a 12–5 record and an NFC East division title, including sweeping the entire [[NFC East]] for the first time since 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 11, 2022|title=Cowboys' Stephen Jones: Sweeping NFC East was 'first box to check'|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/dallas-cowboys-stephen-jones-sweeping-nfc-east-was-first-box-to-check/287-a5048d01-2ecf-4751-93a5-93e2c079edcd|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=wfaa.com}}</ref> After a Week 9 30–16 loss to the [[2021 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]], McCarthy displayed a can of Anti-Monkey Butt powder in a presentation to the team. He informed the Cowboys that although the prior week's loss had been a "Red Ass Week," McCarthy was confident his team would stage a comeback.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochoa |first=R. J. |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Mike McCarthy used "Monkey Butt" to motivate the Dallas Cowboys towards victory over the Falcons |url=https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2021/11/15/22783833/mike-mccarthy-used-monkey-butt-to-motivate-the-dallas-cowboys-towards-victory-over-the-falcons |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=Blogging The Boys}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jori |title=Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy reveals unusual motivation tactic for rout of Atlanta Falcons |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2021/11/15/mike-mccarthy-uses-monkey-butt-motivate-dallas-cowboys/8634124002/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=USA TODAY}}</ref> McCarthy missed the Week 13 27–17 road victory over the [[2021 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] after testing positive for [[COVID-19]] and was placed in COVID protocols for 10 days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2021 |title=Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy returning to work after 10-day COVID-19 protocols |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32822192/dallas-cowboys-coach-mike-mccarthy-returning-work-10-day-covid-19-protocols |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Cowboys were upset at home 23–17 by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in the [[2021–22 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] in the wild-card round. The game ended with the clock running out on the Cowboys following a [[Draw play|quarterback draw]] as they attempted to spike the ball to stop the clock to permit a final pass play.

McCarthy was particularly criticized for his decision to use a quarterback draw with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, instead of going for two or more passes from further out.<ref>{{Cite web|title=McCarthy explains what happened on Dak's game-ending scramble|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/cowboys-mike-mccarthy-explains-dak-prescotts-strange-late-scramble-vs-49ers|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=RSN|date=January 17, 2022}}</ref> McCarthy defended his decision, explaining that he was hoping to get another, easier play in after coming closer to the end zone and that he thought that 14 seconds was sufficient to allow his team to do this.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33083093/had-problem-getting-ball-spotted|title = Dallas Cowboys' Mike McCarthy defends QB draw play: 'Shouldn't have had problem getting ball spotted'|date = January 17, 2022}}</ref>