McCarthy to coach Cowboys
Mike McCarthy won a Super Bowl and went to the playoffs eight straight years while coaching two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Cowboys are hoping for similar results from McCarthy with Dak Prescott.
McCarthy, who won the title as the Packers coach at the home of the Cowboys nine years ago, agreed to become the ninth coach in Cowboys history, according to reports Monday.
McCarthy interviewed over the weekend, before the Cowboys made the announcement Sunday that Jason Garrett wouldn’t return after 91⁄2 seasons.
The Cowboys missed the playoffs at 8-8 with high expectations in a make-or-break season for Garrett, whose contract expires next week.
The Packers made nine trips to the postseason in 13 years under McCarthy. That’s the only other head coaching job the 56-year-old has held. He was fired during what ended up being a second straight losing season for the Packers in 2018.
McCarthy led the Packers to at least 10 wins in eight of his first 11 seasons, including four trips to the NFC championship game.
The Cowboys haven’t been that far in the playoffs since the last of the franchise’s five Super Bowl titles to finish the 1995 season. The Cowboys missed the playoffs six times in Garrett’s nine full seasons.
McCarthy also interviewed with the Browns, Panthers and Giants. He went 125-77-2 in the regular season with the Packers and 10-8 in the playoffs. The Cowboys have just three playoff wins since their last championship.
The eight-year playoff run for McCarthy and Rodgers was from 2009-16, a stretch that included two divisional-round victories over the Garrett-led Cowboys.
The Cowboys believe they have their next franchise QB in Prescott, who was the 2016 offensive rookie of the year after replacing the injured Tony Romo and never relinquishing the starting job.
Prescott, whose rookie contract is expiring, and two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott have made the playoffs twice in four seasons and got their first playoff victory in 2018 after losing their postseason debut to Rodgers and McCarthy when the
Cowboys were the NFC’s top seed in 2016.
NFL Network reported that linebackers coach Mike Nolan, 60, will be the Cowboys defensive coordinator under McCarthy, who was the offensive coordinator on Nolan’s 49ers staff in 2005.
Rams fire Phillips: The Rams fired veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillipsafter three winning seasons.
Phillips announced Monday on Twitter that the Rams aren’t renewing his contract, and the team later confirmed it. The 72-year-old former head coach of a record six NFL teams said he wants to stay in coaching.
The Rams finished 9-7 this season, missing the playoffs for the first time in Phillips’ three-year partnership with Sean McVay. Although Phillips’ distinctive 3-4 defense again finished near the top of the NFL in many advanced metrics this season, McVay has decided to shake up his coaching staff for a third consecutive offseason.
The Rams also fired veteran running backs coach Skip Peete, who had been with the franchise since before McVay and Phillips arrived.
Saints’ Alonso tears ACL again: Linebacker Kiko Alonso tore the ACL in his right knee during the Saints’ playoff loss to the Vikings on Sunday, NFL Network reported.
Alonso, 29, has suffered three torn ACLs dating to college.