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Despite early reports that Jerry Jones would look to the college ranks to fill the Cowboys expected head coaching vacancy, the Cowboys owner eschewed names like Urban Meyer, Lincoln Riley and Matt Rhule and focused his search on seasoned NFL coaches who could take quick advantage of what Jerruh believes is a complete roster.
After reports that Marvin Lewis and other experienced coaches were being considered, the news was announced on Sunday that Jason Garrett was officially out as head coach, and reports started zeroing in on Mike McCarthy as the leading candidate to replace him. Today, there are numerous reports that McCarthy has, indeed, been hired to coach the Cowboys.
Sources: The #Cowboys are focused on hiring former #Packers coach Mike McCarthy. They are currently in talks. A day after firing Jason Garrett, it appears they have their guy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2020
Cowboys are expected to hire former Packers HC Mike McCarthy, as @JayGlazer reported.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2020
Mike McCarthy tells me he just signed with the #Cowboys. Done deal. He’s their new head coach.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 6, 2020
New Cowboys’ HC Mike McCarthy stayed over Jerry Jones’ house on Saturday night, per source. “Once you stay at Jerrry’s house, he doesn’t lose his guy,” said source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2020
From @gmfb: The #Cowboys coaching search is done. Former #Packers coach Mike McCarthy is their guy. pic.twitter.com/qrs2Zuq9IA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2020
It's not official, official but as first reported by Jay Glazer. The #Cowboys have their new head coach. Player reaction and update pic.twitter.com/l1Ea3C5rXm
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) January 6, 2020
"I'm not trying to just go win one, I'm trying to win them all."
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 9, 2019
If you have any question about what returning to an NFL sideline in 2020 means to former #Packers coach Mike McCarthy or the work he's put in to be ready, check out this glimpse at my @nflnetwork feature. pic.twitter.com/sbaoAElIEE
Mike McCarthy was the longtime head coach of the Green Bay Packers and was fired by that team before the 2018 season finished. During his time there he went to four NFC Championship Games and won Super Bowl XLV (a game played at what was then Cowboys Stadium and is now AT&T Stadium). His tenure there ended in extreme dissatisfaction as increasing friction between McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was obvious. Packers fans were unhappy with what they percieved as McCarthy’s increasingly unimaginative play-calling, and with the belief that more should have been accomplished with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
This belief may have been well-founded, as, under new head coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers achieved a 13-3 record, their best since 2011, and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
McCarthy, meanwhile, was out of football in 2019. In Green Bay, he dealt with the shadows of championship coaches Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren. In Dallas, he will deal with the shadows of championship coaches Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson.