By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — Another team has thrown their hat in the ring of this year’s NFL coaching carousel, and in doing so, the New Orleans Saints will be substantially impacted in their search.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dallas Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy are parting ways. That makes McCarthy available to speak with other teams immediately as he pursues his next opportunity.
Members of #Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s staff have now been informed that the two sides are separating and his contract will expire. McCarthy is free to speak with other teams — #Saints and #Bears are at the top of the list.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2025
It has long been the expectation that should McCarthy become available that the Saints would be interested. Seeing the two meet in the coming days or weeks will be far from any kind of surprise. The Chicago Bears are expected to be interested as well.
“I think Mike McCarthy is gonna be a strong candidate in Chicago and New Orleans,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Monday on the Pat McAfee Show.
“I think Mike McCarthy is gonna be a strong candidate in Chicago and New Orleans..
If the Saints are in on Mike McCarthy then Aaron Glenn and the Jets would become a logical match down the line” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/mfzGUFc7r2
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 13, 2025
McCarthy spent his 2000-2004 seasons as offensive coordinator in New Orleans. He represents a candidate with ties to the organization as well as ties to general manager and executive vice president Mickey Loomis, who carried the lone title of general manager at the time of McCarthy’s Saints employment.
After his time with New Orleans, he went on to win a Super Bowl championship with the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 season. Since then, McCarthy’s Green Bay and Dallas Cowboys tenures have been filled with playoff disappointments. His teams have gone to the playoffs nine times since 2011 with one conference final appearance and multiple gutting exits to show for it.
But for a team that has not made the postseason in the last four seasons, just getting into the conversation may be enough to make McCarthy look like a bigger fish.
The other layer at play for New Orleans is that the Cowboys head coaching job is now available. The team went from being one of five open head coaching positions to being back at six with the New England Patriots having filled their spot. But the Cowboys are a big name, one that should attract top candidates by virtue of the team’s NFL cache alone.
So, the Saints may have a new candidate, but they’ll also have some serious competition if McCarthy is not their guy.
