Mike McCarthy Sitting Out 2025 Coaching Cycle With Saints Left As Only Opening

McCarthy has reportedly decided to focus on next year's coaching cycle and will take a year off from coaching in the NFL.
Former Dallas Cowboys head coach McCarthy looks on during the first half against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium.
Former Dallas Cowboys head coach McCarthy looks on during the first half against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy won't coach in the NFL this season with the New Orleans Saints standing as the only franchise with a head coach vacancy remaining. McCarthy was a potential candidate for the Saints, but ultimately did not interview.

McCarthy will reportedly focus on next year's hiring cycle, deciding not to coach in the NFL this season according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.

Pelissero and Rapoport mentioned that the former Cowboys and Green Bay Packers coach is expected to be a strong candidate next offseason, giving McCarthy more options a year from now. McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways Jan. 13 after Dallas finished with a 7–10 record, missing the playoffs. His current contract expired and the two sides couldn't come to terms on the length for a new deal, bringing the coach to explore new opportunities after five seasons in Dallas.

McCarthy, 61, coached the Packers from 2006 to '18 before he sat out the 2019 season and got the Cowboys job in 2020. Now, the longtime coach will take another gap year before he figures out his next move, giving him more options to consider.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.