Tag: Mike McCarthy

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NFL (American Football)

Mike McCarthy has pulled out of the Saints’ coaching search and will not coach in 2025

Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy (NFL)

Mike McCarthy has decided not to coach in 2025, removing himself as a candidate for the New Orleans Saints’ open head coaching position.

A person close to McCarthy shared this decision with The Associated Press on Tuesday night, but they asked to remain anonymous because McCarthy and the Saints have not publicly discussed it.

McCarthy is the third major candidate to step away from the Saints’ search, following Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

The remaining candidates for the Saints job include Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi, Miami defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. All of them have already had in-person interviews.

If the Saints want to hire Moore, they will have to wait until after the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.

Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy pass critical decisions for the Cowboys’ future

Rizzi, a long-time special teams coordinator with the Dolphins and Saints, took over as head coach in New Orleans after the firing of third-year coach Dennis Allen in November. Rizzi went 3-5, starting off 3-1 before starting quarterback Derek Carr was injured and lost for the season with a non-throwing hand injury.

The 61-year-old McCarthy, who spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers during his 12 seasons there, was the most experienced candidate being considered by the Saints.

McCarthy had been successful as an offensive coordinator in New Orleans from 2000 to 2004 before spending one season in the same role with San Francisco. Green Bay hired him in 2006, and he helped transition the team’s quarterback position from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, winning a Super Bowl with Rodgers in the 2010 season.

McCarthy left Dallas after a 7-10 record in 2024, which was his second losing season with the Cowboys. He had won 12 regular-season games in each of the previous three seasons.

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NFL (American Football)

Mike McCarthy will not return as the Cowboys’ coach, with Deion Sanders emerging as a potential replacement in Dallas

Mike McCarthy with the players

Mike McCarthy will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, according to owner Jerry Jones, who made the announcement on Monday. The Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl in nearly 30 years, and Jones stated that McCarthy and the organization mutually agreed to part ways. The search for the team’s next head coach begins immediately.

Jones expressed his respect for McCarthy, praising him for leading the team through challenging times. McCarthy’s contract ended on January 8 following a 7-10 season. Before that, he led the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-5 seasons but was unable to take the team past the divisional round of the NFC playoffs, a dry spell that has lasted since the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl victory at the end of the 1995 season.

Deion Sanders, the head coach at the University of Colorado and former player for the last Cowboys team to win a Super Bowl, has a strong relationship with Jones. Sanders could be a candidate for the head coach position. The two have discussed the job, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous. While no formal interview has been scheduled, the team is still gathering possible candidates.

The Cowboys had an exclusive window to negotiate with McCarthy through Tuesday, but both parties decided to part ways before that deadline.

McCarthy, 61, previously coached the Green Bay Packers for 13 seasons, where he had a 125-77-2 record. He won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011, 14 years ago at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys’ home. McCarthy also led Green Bay to three NFC championship games.

Jones hired McCarthy in 2020 after Jason Garrett’s tenure ended, as Garrett never reached the NFC championship game in his 10 years as head coach. McCarthy’s record with the Cowboys stands at 50-38, including a 1-3 playoff record.

Deion Sanders weighs NFL offer while staying committed to Boulder (Dallas Cowboys)

The 2022 season saw the Cowboys win the NFC East and achieve 16 consecutive home victories. However, their season ended in disappointment after a 48-32 wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers, where they trailed by 32 points in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys also struggled with injuries, losing key players like quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb, guard Zack Martin, cornerback Trevon Diggs, and defender DeMarcus Lawrence during the season.

McCarthy’s firing comes after a period of instability for the Cowboys. Jason Garrett, the franchise’s second-longest-serving coach, led the team for 10 years without reaching the NFC championship game. The longest-tenured coach in Cowboys history was Hall of Famer Tom Landry, who coached for the first 29 seasons. Jones fired Landry after purchasing the team before the 1989 season.

McCarthy has 174 career regular-season wins, ranking among the top 12 NFL coaches for most wins. The only active coaches with more wins than McCarthy are Andy Reid with 302 and Mike Tomlin with 183.

Jones’ next hire will be his ninth head coach. His first coach was Jimmy Johnson, whom he brought in from the University of Miami. Johnson led the Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the 1992-93 seasons, but the two had a bitter split after that.

Barry Switzer took over and won a Super Bowl in his second season but was fired after two years following a 6-10 record. Bill Parcells, another Hall of Famer, coached the Cowboys from 2003-06, leading them to the playoffs twice but losing in the wild-card round both times.

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The Dallas Cowboys have interviewed Robert Saleh for their head coach position, and Leslie Frazier is scheduled for his interview next

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh looks on during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos

The Dallas Cowboys interviewed former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh on Saturday as part of their search to find a replacement for Mike McCarthy.

The in-person interview with Saleh took place just one day after the Cowboys held a virtual interview with Kellen Moore, the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. Moore had been the Cowboys’ play-caller from 2019 to 2022 and worked closely with franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.

Saleh was fired by the Jets after just five games into his fourth season with the team. He finished with a 20-36 record. Saleh has also interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the San Francisco 49ers, a role he held before joining the Jets in 2021.

The Cowboys have plans for another interview with a coach with a defensive background: Seattle assistant head coach Leslie Frazier. Frazier, who was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for several years, also served as the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills after the Vikings let him go following the 2013 season.

Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways on Monday after five seasons. McCarthy, who was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers before joining Dallas, also interviewed for the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears this week.

Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy (NFL)

Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones has had informal talks with Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who played for the Cowboys for five seasons and helped them win their most recent Super Bowl during the 1995 season. Since then, Dallas has not advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs.

Jason Witten, an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end and holder of several Cowboys records, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the head coaching position. Since retiring as a player in 2020, Witten has coached at a private high school in the Dallas area.

Another candidate in the mix is Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn, who played defensive back at Texas A&M, spent two seasons with the Cowboys late in his 15-year career. Glenn and Moore will both be focused on their respective divisional playoff games this weekend. The Detroit Lions are hosting Washington on Saturday night, while the Philadelphia Eagles, with Moore as their offensive coordinator, are playing against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

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Winners and Losers After Cowboys Keep Mike McCarthy Following NFL Playoff Loss

Winners and Losers After Cowboys Keep Mike McCarthy Following NFL Playoff Loss

After the Dallas Cowboys’ historic playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, speculation arose about the potential departure of head coach Mike McCarthy. However, following a meeting with team owner Jerry Jones, McCarthy will return for the final year of his contract. Jones expressed confidence in McCarthy’s leadership, citing the team’s progress and success under his guidance.

Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy (Credits: Fox News)

Winner: Mike McCarthy

McCarthy emerges as the clear winner, retaining his position amid support from key players, including quarterback Dak Prescott. The decision ensures McCarthy’s continuity and stability, providing him with an advantageous situation compared to potential coaching vacancies elsewhere.

Loser: Dallas Cowboys

While McCarthy’s return may be justifiable, doubts linger about the Cowboys’ ability to secure another Super Bowl under his leadership. The recent playoff embarrassment raises concerns about coaching effectiveness on the big stage, potentially hindering the team’s postseason success in the future.

Winner: The Rest of the NFC East

The decision to retain McCarthy could benefit the NFC East rivals, who are already familiar with his coaching style, tendencies, and team dynamics. The stability McCarthy brings allows opposing teams to strategize against a known quantity, potentially giving them an edge in the division.

Loser: Dan Quinn

Despite Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn sharing the blame for the playoff loss, he remains in contention for various head coaching vacancies. However, McCarthy’s retention diminishes Quinn’s chances of ascending to the top coaching position with the Cowboys, making other opportunities less appealing in comparison.

Winner: Other Teams Shopping for a Head Coach

The decision to keep McCarthy in Dallas benefits other teams seeking a head coach in the 2024 cycle. The Cowboys’ allure as “America’s Team,” with high expectations and a Super Bowl-quality roster, could have attracted top coaching candidates. With McCarthy staying, these candidates remain available for other teams, making the coaching market more competitive and appealing for those seeking a new head coach.

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Mike McCarthy enters the 2024 season with the Dallas Cowboys in a high-stakes ‘all or nothing’ scenario.

2024 is an ‘all or nothing’ season with Mike McCarthy

ESPN’s NFL reporter Todd Archer, who specializes in covering the Dallas Cowboys, has been immersed in NFL journalism since 1997 and has focused on the Cowboys since 2003. Since joining ESPN in 2010, he has been a prominent voice in reporting on the team.

In Frisco, Texas, where the Cowboys are based, head coach Mike McCarthy has consistently introduced different themes for each season. The 2023 theme was “Carpe Omnia,” which translates to seize everything in Latin. Now, with owner and general manager Jerry Jones confirming McCarthy’s return for a fifth season, the coach might not need to brainstorm a new theme for 2024 – “All or Nothing” seems fitting.

Having inked a five-year deal with the Cowboys in 2020, McCarthy has no indication of an extension following his meeting with Jones. The upcoming season also marks the final year of quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract, making it a crucial period for the team.

Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy

While there’s time to negotiate a contract extension for Prescott, his current cap hit of $59.4 million poses challenges for the Cowboys in terms of signing free agents or retaining key players without restructuring the deal. The team faces the dilemma of committing to a lucrative contract for Prescott, potentially among the highest-paid quarterbacks, considering his eight-year tenure as the starter and a playoff record of 2-5 without reaching a conference title game.

McCarthy’s return raises several questions, including his coaching record of 42-25 and the success he has achieved with two NFC East titles in the last three seasons. Notably, McCarthy took on playcalling duties in the recent season, resulting in Prescott’s stellar performance, leading the NFL in touchdown passes.

Despite McCarthy’s accomplishments, postseason success remains the ultimate yardstick for evaluation. McCarthy has faced playoff exits twice, including a recent 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Speculation about a potential coaching change has been kept under wraps, with Jones not making any overt moves toward renowned coaches like Bill Belichick or Jim Harbaugh.

Jones, known for being impulsive and risk-taking, has refrained from major coaching changes since 2012. As he approaches 82 years old, his desire for another championship adds weight to the decision to stick with McCarthy rather than pursuing younger offensive coaching talent.

The coaching staff’s future also hangs in the balance, with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interviewing for head-coaching positions with multiple teams. Potential replacements from within the current coaching staff, such as Joe Whitt Jr., Aden Durde, or Al Harris, are being considered. Alternatively, external options like Wink Martindale could be explored.

As the team heads into the 2024 season, it’s evident that the stakes are high – a make-or-break period for the Cowboys, emphasizing the “All or Nothing” nature of the upcoming campaign.