A few weeks after failing to reach a contract agreement with the Cowboys, Mike McCarthy has chosen not to coach in the NFL in 2025 and will instead prioritize the 2026 hiring cycle, according to NFL Network.
McCarthy, 61, served as the Cowboys’ head coach from 2020 to 2024, compiling a 49-35 record, which ranked eighth in the NFL in winning percentage during that period. Following a 6-10 first season, he led Dallas to three straight 12-5 seasons, but secured only one playoff victory in that stretch.
In 2024, Dallas finished with a 7-10 record, hindered by injuries to quarterback Dak Prescott and other key players, a struggling run game among the league’s worst, and defensive issues following coordinator Dan Quinn’s departure to Washington.
McCarthy was not dismissed by the Cowboys; instead, his contract expired on January 14. A day prior, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones revealed that both parties were unable to reach an agreement. As a result, McCarthy faced a significant disadvantage in the coaching interview process with other teams.
The Cowboys opted for an internal hire, elevating offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach last week.
McCarthy met with the Bears for an interview before they hired Ben Johnson last week. He also received an interview request from the Saints, but reports indicate the meeting never took place before he chose to withdraw from the hiring cycle. As of Tuesday night, the Saints are the only team with a head-coaching vacancy, as the other six openings this offseason have already been filled.
Before coaching in Dallas, McCarthy led the Packers from 2006 to 2018, compiling a 125-77-2 record and winning Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers during the 2011 season. Throughout his 18-year head coaching career, he has reached the playoffs 12 times. With 174 career regular-season victories, McCarthy ranks 13th all-time and third among active coaches, trailing only Andy Reid of the Chiefs (273) and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers (183).
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