This was their first season since 2020 without Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator, as the Washington Commanders hired him to be their head coach.

He was replaced in that role by former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, who returned to the Cowboys after eighteen years.

After the Eagles defeated the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, the Cowboys were knocked out of NFC East contention, marking the 20th straight season the division would not have a repeat champion.

For the first time since 2010, offensive tackle Tyron Smith was not on the roster, as he signed with the New York Jets during free agency.

[2] On April 29, running back Ezekiel Elliott signed a one-year contract to return to the team after a year away.

Prescott would later undergo surgery for what was revealed as a partial tendon avulsion, causing him to miss the rest of the season.

The Cowboys set an NFL record by trailing by over 20 points in six straight home games, dating back to last season's wild-card loss to the Packers, and fell to 3–7.

Despite entering as 10.5 point underdogs, the Cowboys shocked their division rivals, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in the game, and snapped their five-game losing streak, improving to 4–7.

Dallas entered this game having been eliminated from contention for the NFC East title due to the Philadelphia Eagles' win over the Carolina Panthers the day before.

A promising opening drive for the Cowboys ended in disaster when Cooper Rush threw a 69-yard pick six to C. J. Gardner-Johnson to give the Eagles a 7–0 lead.

The Cowboys responded with a twelve-play, 70-yard drive culminating in a game-tying Jalen Tolbert touchdown reception for what ultimately would be Dallas's only points of the afternoon.

After the teams traded punts twice, the Eagles reclaimed a 14–7 lead with a DeVonta Smith touchdown and never looked back.

Eight days after the loss, on January 13, the Cowboys announced that head coach Mike McCarthy's contract would not be renewed as the team could not reach an agreement with him on an extension, thus ending his tenure in Dallas.