Ex-Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy backs out of 2025 hiring window

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy does not plan to coach this year. The New Orleans Saints are the only team still looking to hire a head coach, with six other franchises previously filling their vacancies.

Sources told NFL Network, ESPN and The Athletic that McCarthy withdrew his name from consideration for the Saints job and doesn't plan to coach next season. McCarthy previously interviewed for the Chicago Bears opening, but that job went to former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

The Cowboys and McCarthy split earlier this month, ending a five-year union. The split occurred after many other interviews for previous openings took place. The New England Patriots filled one of the seven openings by hiring Mike Vrabel days before McCarthy's departure from Dallas.

The Saints, who fired former coach Dennis Allen on Nov. 4, held second interviews with several candidates, including Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Moore was McCarthy's offensive coordinator for three seasons. Brian Schottenheimer, who was McCarthy's offensive coordinator the last two years, took the Cowboys job on Friday.

McCarthy, 61, also took a break from coaching in 2019 after he was fired by the Green Bay Packers. The veteran coach, who won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011, took the Cowboys job in 2020.