Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy reportedly removes name from Saints search, to sit out 2025

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy will remain a free agent through the 2025 season.

McCarthy, whose contract expired with the Cowboys and wasn't signed to an extension, will sit out the 2025 season, according to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero. McCarthy removed his name from consideration for the New Orleans Saints' vacancy. The Saints are the last team to have a head coaching job open this offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had a second interview with the Saints and looks like a favorite for the job, according to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo.

McCarthy could be in consideration for a head coaching job again next year, though a year off won't help him. He, however, has an intriguing résumé.

McCarthy has a career record of 174-112-2. He had a .618 winning percentage in 13 seasons as Green Bay Packers head coach and a .583 winning percentage in five seasons in Dallas. His .608 career winning percentage is better than some Hall of Famers like Tom Landry, Bill Parcells and Chuck Noll. He also has a Super Bowl championship with the 2010 Packers, though he took a lot of criticism in Green Bay for not winning another with Aaron Rodgers.

And for all of the regular-season wins in Dallas, McCarthy was always on the hot seat because he never took the Cowboys to the NFC championship game or a Super Bowl.

As it became clear he might be on his way out in Dallas, McCarthy delivered a message to any future employer.

"I don't like to talk about myself that way, but I'll just be clear: I'm a winner. I know how to win. I've won a championship. I won a championship in this building [AT&T Stadium, where the Packers won a Super Bowl]," McCarthy said at the end of last season, via the Cowboys' site. "And that's who I am. We'll see where it goes."

The track record is why McCarthy was contacted by some teams with openings as soon as his Cowboys contract had expired and he was allowed to interview. The Bears and Saints immediately set up interviews with him. McCarthy had a history with the Saints. He was their offensive coordinator from 2000-04, which was his job right before becoming Packers head coach.

The Bears ultimately went with Ben Johnson and McCarthy won't go to New Orleans either. He'll have to hope that he remains a viable name to teams that might have a vacant head coaching job a year from now.