FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy, whilst the present head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, usually lights up when a subject associated to his 13 seasons because the Inexperienced Bay Packers head coach from 2006-2018 comes up.
Whether or not that was evaluating Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland throughout his run towards the NFL’s single-season pick-sixes report and up the NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr odds checklist to Corridor of Fame cornerback Charles Woodson, who he coached throughout his 2009 Defensive Participant of the Yr season with the Packers, or speaking about how Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott’s 2023 wherein he led the NFL with 36 landing passes compares to a number of the years he had with future Corridor of Fame Packers passer Aaron Rodgers up in Inexperienced Bay, McCarthy is usually an open e-book.
Why would not he be? McCarthy went 125-77-2 in his 13 seasons with the Packers, sporting the third-highest win share in the whole league in that span, trailing solely the Tom Brady-Belichick New England Patriots dynasty (162-46) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (133-74-1) throughout the ultimate yr of Corridor of Fame head coach Invoice Cowher’s tenure and Mike Tomlin’s time with the Steelers. Solely the Patriots (20) and the Seattle Seahawks (11) received extra playoff video games than McCarthy’s Packers (10) in that span.
He and Rodgers teamed as much as assist lead Inexperienced Bay to the Super Bowl XLV title within the 2010 season. Following that victory, town named a road after him, Mike McCarthy Method. That run concluded with a victory in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers at AT&T Stadium, which is the positioning of Sunday’s NFC Tremendous Wild Card Weekend matchup between McCarthy’s second-seeded Cowboys and the seventh-seeded Packers. Dallas versus Inexperienced Bay on Sunday would be the ninth staff the 2 iconic franchises sq. off within the postseason tied for probably the most playoff conferences between two groups all time.
The final playoff assembly between the 2 groups got here when McCarthy nonetheless donned the Inexperienced and Gold within the 2016 NFC divisional spherical. Rodgers led a game-winning drive that allowed kicker Mason Crosby to drill a 51-yard area purpose as time expired for a 34-31 Packers victory, upsetting the top-seeded Cowboys and the then-NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr Prescott, McCarthy’s present pupil.
This week, McCarthy is refusing to make a journey down reminiscence lane when involves speaking about that recreation or his Packers feelings generally.
“I’m not reflecting,” McCarthy stated Monday when requested about Prescott’s first playoff recreation when McCarthy’s Packers upset the Dallas Cowboys within the 2016 NFC divisional spherical. “An incredible recreation. Dak and I’ve spoken concerning the particulars of the sport time and time once more, and much more so if you undergo totally different conditions. There have been conditions in that recreation that got here up, and now that we’re in the identical offense, he can see the similarities and why we do what we do, and actually the historical past about it. We have talked about that recreation a variety of occasions.”
Forward of Week 10 final season, McCarthy indulged questions on his Packers tenure since he was getting set to face them for the primary time as the pinnacle coach of the Cowboys with the sport set to be performed within the frozen tundra of Lambeau Subject on Nov. 13, 2022. His perspective about his homecoming soured after the Cowboys blew a two-touchdown lead within the fourth quarter, 28-14, to lose 31-28 in extra time in opposition to the Packers.
Rodgers, taking part in by a damaged thumb on his throwing hand, related with then-rookie broad receiver Christian Watson for 107 yards and three receiving touchdowns, tying him with Corridor of Fame wideout Randy Moss (1998) for probably the most receiving touchdowns in a recreation all-time in opposition to Dallas. Inexperienced Bay operating again Aaron Jones, a fifth-round decide within the 2017 NFL Draft — McCarthy’s penultimate class because the Packers head coach — ran wild for 138 yards and a landing on 24 carries, 5.8 yards per rush. After chatting with the Cowboys a yr in the past previous to the matchup about what it meant to him, McCarthy will not be wanting again at his time with the Packers once more. Nonetheless, he will not have the ability to cease his spouse Jessica, who’s from Inexperienced Bay, and his youngsters who had been born and raised there from doing so this week.
“I’ve obtained a spouse and three daughters, clearly two sons, however I am unable to win in that home,” McCarthy stated when requested how he stops his household from being nostalgic and if his household is Packers or Cowboys followers. … “That is an awesome query. Yeah, I feel the largest factor is playoff time, and we talked about it on the staff assembly as we speak [on Monday], this can be a time for all of us to be egocentric. Each participant. Each coach. Each help workers member. As a result of we have put a lot into this season, preparing for the season. We’re proper the place we have to be. We have to take full benefit of that. That is simply actually the tightness that we would like and the dedication.
“As a result of final yr, I assumed it was essential for me to speak about Inexperienced Bay at first of the week. I did with the staff. I regretted it. I do not suppose … That does not even want to come back into our vitality base. So, you reside and be taught. This recreation’s about our dedication. It does not matter who we’re paying, and it actually does not. I’ve no stake at it. I did not watch one [Packers] recreation previous to yesterday’s contests in preparation. So simply began final evening [on Sunday] on the airplane, and that is the place I’m. I feel that is clearly the place our staff is. Our staff, it is simply no time for that. I answered the questions truthfully in right here final yr about my expertise up there. It simply won’t assist us win. So if it does not assist us win a recreation, I am not fascinated with it. I apologize.”
Regardless that McCarthy is making NFL historical past as simply the third head coach to teach a playoff recreation in opposition to the staff he beforehand received a championship with — becoming a member of Mike Holmgren in opposition to the Packers when he was with the Seattle Seahawks and Weeb Ewbank in opposition to the Colts when he was with the New York Jets — he was crystal clear that Sunday is not going to be about him over on the Cowboys sideline.
“It is a gamers’ recreation,” McCarthy stated when requested about why he regretted speaking about his time in Inexperienced Bay earlier than final yr’s matchup. “It at all times has been, at all times will probably be. That is all it needs to be centered on. I consider there’s 24 hours in a day, seven days to arrange and if we’re not engaged on successful then it is a waste of time. To place that on their hearts, and so they wanted to talk on my behalf within the locker room, I will not do this once more.”
McCarthy’s Packers tenure ended abruptly with Inexperienced Bay staff president Mark Murphy firing McCarthy earlier than he left Lambeau Subject after a 20-17 residence loss in Week 13 of the 2018 season in opposition to the struggling Arizona Cardinals, who had began rookie Josh Rosen in that contest. Returning again there in 2022 helped him flush a number of the bitter style from his final recreation he coached within the historic venue.
“Personally, it helps me,” McCarthy stated on having gone as much as Lambeau Subject to play the Packers final yr. “It was good to return there, frankly. I feel the largest factor I obtained out of going again there was I obtained to see lots of people I did not get to see on the finish. So, I used to be grateful for that. We’d’ve appreciated to have received the sport, and on the finish of the day, that is my staff. I am a Dallas Cowboy. That is our alternative, and I simply wish to be certain I am doing my half, and that is supporting every part in successful this recreation.”
His gamers nonetheless have the non-public significance of what Sunday’s recreation means for his or her head coach close to the highest of their minds even with the continuation of their 2023 season hanging within the stability, hinging on the end result of the sport in opposition to Inexperienced Bay.
“It is large, I am fairly positive there’s going to be lots of emotion with Coach McCarthy and rightfully so,” security Jayron Kearse stated Monday on a convention name. “He received a Super Bowl there, had some nice years there. To play them on this wild card recreation, I do know it will be large for him. I am fairly positive he will not let that get in the best way of the issues that we have now to do. Understanding that we’re right here for one purpose, and it isn’t Mike McCarthy vs. Inexperienced Bay. It is the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Inexperienced Bay Packers. We would like exit right here and win this factor for coach, however we perceive that is only a staff in our method. Let’s not make this a much bigger deal than what it’s. It is the playoffs, it is large sufficient. Let’s not put anything on it. Let’s simply go on the market and deal with enterprise as a result of that is what we have now to do so as to obtain the issues we got down to obtain in the beginning of the yr.”
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn can relate to what McCarthy goes by. He spent six seasons as the pinnacle coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and like McCarthy he led them to a Tremendous Bowl look. Additionally like the present Dallas head coach, Quinn was unceremoniously fired in-season again in 2020. McCarthy employed him the next offseason. Nonetheless after getting one assembly out of the best way, he stated it is so much simpler to see your former staff within the conferences following that first matchup on the opposite sideline.
“I feel anyone is aware of, you place a lot into it that you simply really feel related to the staff and the group,” Quinn stated Monday. “There’s so much that goes into that. He is completed lots of nice work there and the historical past has proven that. On the finish of it, you are in a position to compartmentalize that was a special time and place and also you return to replicate one other time. This time, you are simply fascinated with ‘how do you go along with it and play your finest?'”
Nobody blames McCarthy for having layered feelings coming into the postseason in opposition to his longtime soccer and household residence, and so they all know his message for the Cowboys this time round will probably be all about ball.
“Yeah, we had lots of time to speak about it, however I might think about what he stated could be very true, possibly it was good final yr to type of get one underneath his belt out of the best way,” Cowboys particular groups coordinator John Fassel stated Monday. “I feel that is human nature that each one of us undergo whether or not it is taking part in the Rams [where Fassel coached in the same role for eight seasons] or the Packers. We have all in all probability been on groups who we performed in opposition to within the yr following leaving that staff. I really feel like from Coach’s perspective, the message goes to be about successful the soccer recreation no matter who we’re taking part in in opposition to. I actually consider that. So, I am wanting ahead to an awesome soccer recreation man.”
