After parting ways with the Dallas Cowboys, Mike McCarthy has chosen to take a break for the upcoming season.
McCarthy has decided that he will not coach in the NFL in the 2025 season, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday, as the former Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach will instead focus on the 2026 hiring cycle.
In the wake of his departure from Dallas due to failed contract negotiations, McCarthy interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their head coach opening before Chicago ultimately went with Ben Johnson.
He also received a request to interview with the Saints for their HC position, but did not complete a visit before his decision to withdraw. Now New Orleans will continue to look elsewhere as the last team with a head coach opening.
This is not the first time McCarthy has opted to take a breather from the coaching world after departing from a team. After he was fired by the Packers during the 2018 season, McCarthy didn’t return to the sidelines until 2020 with Dallas.
He spent five seasons as the Cowboys head coach, accumulating a 49-35 record with the team and leading it to three postseason appearances, though Dallas never advanced beyond the Divisional Round. Between his time in Green Bay and Dallas, McCarthy led his teams to 12 postseason trips in 18 seasons at the helm, including winning Super Bowl XLV with the Packers.
His resume will likely make McCarthy a likely strong candidate in next offseason’s hiring cycle, though that’s still a long way away. For now, the 2025 NFL season will go forth without McCarthy as a participant.