Jerry Jones: Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s job is not on the line vs. Tampa Bay

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been known to say, “just cause I said it doesn’t make it so.”

Because Jones can and will change his mind.

He has done it before.

But Jones was direct and seemingly unequivocal in his backing of coach Mike McCarthy heading in Monday’s wildcard playoff game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Asked on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday whether a one-and-done loss to the Buccaneers could impact McCarthy’s status as head coach, Jones’ didn’t blink.

“No. I don’t even want to ... No. That’s it,” he said. “I don’t need to go into all the pluses or minuses. I’ve got a lot more to evaluate Mike McCarthy on than this playoff game.”

McCarthy has two years left on his contract.

Jones’ backing of McCarthy comes one year after he personally put his status on the line following a wildcard playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, fueling rumors about Sean Payton and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn possibility taking over.

McCarthy stayed on and he has the Cowboys back in the playoffs with an identical 12-5 record from a year ago. It’s the first time since 1994-95 the Cowboys have had back-to-back 12-win seasons.

They have also made made back-to-back trips to the playoffs for the first time since 2006-2007, the first time with the same coach since 1998-1999 under Chan Gailey.

The 2006 team was coached by Bill Parcells and the 2007 team was coached by Wade Phillips.

Gailey’s situation is notable.

He was fired after those back-to-back playoff seasons because Jones felt the Cowboys underachieved with the talent they had on the roster.

Might the same scenario crop this season for a Cowboys team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations but is heading into the playoffs following a disappointing showing in a 26-6 loss to the Washington Commanders in the final game of the regular season?

Jones said he’s confident in his team responding the right way as they have done always under McCarthy following a setback. They have not lost back-to-back games the past two seasons.

“I can’t tell you how much confidence I’ve got in Mike and our coaching staff of being on top of where we are with this team right now,” Jones said. “They’ve got every nuance. They understand every frailty that we might have or we might have shown Sunday [in the loss to Washington]. They’ve got everything in their grasp and in their understanding, and I have complete confidence in this coaching staff. It’s outstanding. We’ve got a great chance to go down there and have success.”

And if they don’t, all bets are off on what Jones said about McCarthy’s future on Tuesday.

Just cause he said it doesn’t make it so.