1. Michael John McCarthy was born on November 10,1963 and is an American professional football coach who most recently was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League from 2020 to 2024.
60 Facts About Mike McCarthy
1. 2.
In 2011, Mike McCarthy led the team to a win in Super Bowl XLV over his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
3.
Mike McCarthy was the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.
4.
Mike McCarthy is among only five head coaches to lead one franchise to eight straight playoff appearances.
5.
Mike McCarthy is second to Curly Lambeau in all-time wins leading the Packers.
6.
Mike McCarthy was born and raised in Pittsburgh, in the blue-collar neighborhood of Greenfield.
7.
Mike McCarthy owned a bar called Joe McCarthy's Bar and Grill, which Mike spent his Sundays cleaning before church.
8.
Mike McCarthy attended St Rosalia primary school, where he played basketball.
9.
In 1984, Mike McCarthy attended Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, playing one season for the Fighting Artichokes football team.
10.
Mike McCarthy then transferred to Baker University, an NAIA school located in Baldwin City, Kansas.
11.
On July 30,1989, McCarthy contacted Mike Gottfried, the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, looking for a coaching job, but no positions were available.
12.
Mike McCarthy later showed up at Gottfried's office without an appointment to introduce himself.
13.
Two days later, one of Gottfried's assistants resigned, and Mike McCarthy was offered a volunteer coach position without pay.
14.
Mike McCarthy served as a graduate assistant for three seasons before coaching wide receivers during the 1992 season.
15.
Mike McCarthy stated that he spent his time in the tollbooth reviewing the University of Pittsburgh playbook.
16.
Mike McCarthy worked two years as an offensive quality control assistant.
17.
In 1993 and 1994, Mike McCarthy worked with Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.
18.
In 1995, Mike McCarthy became quarterbacks coach for the Chiefs, overseeing Rich Gannon, Elvis Grbac, and Steve Bono.
19.
When Schottenheimer resigned from the Chiefs after the 1998 season, Mike McCarthy left Kansas City and became the Packers' quarterbacks coach.
20.
In 2000, Mike McCarthy was hired as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
21.
Mike McCarthy was selected as National Football Conference Assistant Coach of the Year by USA Today in 2000.
22.
Mike McCarthy stayed with the team for five seasons through 2004.
23.
Mike McCarthy's unit had setbacks, including the trade of their most experienced quarterback, Tim Rattay.
24.
Mike McCarthy was interviewed by Packers general manager Ted Thompson on January 8,2006, and was offered the head coaching position three days later.
25.
Mike McCarthy led the Packers to the NFC Championship game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl-winning New York Giants in overtime.
26.
On January 19,2008, Mike McCarthy signed a five-year contract extension with the team, which raised his salary to $3.4 million a year.
27.
Ahead of the game, confident in his team's performance, Mike McCarthy had the team fitted for Super Bowl championship rings.
28.
That year, Mike McCarthy took his team to their fifth straight playoff appearance.
29.
In November 2014, Mike McCarthy signed a contract extension through 2018.
30.
Mike McCarthy was criticized after making several questionable play calls during this loss.
31.
On January 2,2018, it was announced that Mike McCarthy had signed a one-year contract extension with the Packers.
32.
Mike McCarthy led the team to nine playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory.
33.
On January 9,2019, Mike McCarthy announced that he intended to sit out the 2019 season and return for 2020.
34.
Mike McCarthy said that his "McCarthy Project" made him "definitely a better coach".
35.
Mike McCarthy interviewed for the vacant head coach position to replace Jason Garrett, which took place over 12 hours, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, executive vice president Stephen Jones, and chief sales and marketing officer Jerry Jones Jr.
36.
On January 7,2020, Mike McCarthy was announced as the Cowboys' new head coach.
37.
Mike McCarthy, who spent his season off watching game film and learning about analytics with fellow coaches, told Jones during the interview that he watched every play of the 2019 season.
38.
Mike McCarthy was the Cowboys' ninth head coach since the organization was founded in 1960.
39.
Mike McCarthy was challenged by the heavy restrictions imposed in the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of physical contact with the players, their availability due to a positive test for the virus or having been exposed to someone who had it, a reduced training camp schedule and the cancellation of the preseason games, which complicated the implementation of the new offensive and defensive schemes.
40.
Mike McCarthy was fined $50,000 by the NFL on July 1,2021, for violating practice rules during organized team activities.
41.
Mike McCarthy informed the Cowboys that although the prior week's loss had been a "Red Ass Week," McCarthy was confident his team would stage a comeback.
42.
Mike McCarthy was particularly criticized for his decision to use a quarterback draw with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, instead of going for two or more passes from further out.
43.
Mike McCarthy defended his decision, explaining that he was hoping to get another, easier play in after coming closer to the end zone and that he thought that 14 seconds was sufficient to allow his team to do this.
44.
Mike McCarthy canceled a preseason practice instead holding a team bonding golf event.
45.
Mike McCarthy dealt with other injuries from key players including safety Jayron Kearse and left tackle Tyron Smith.
46.
Mike McCarthy said he was looking forward to seeing Aaron Rodgers.
47.
In January 2023, Mike McCarthy announced that the Cowboys would be parting ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
48.
In February 2023, team owner Jerry Jones stated that Mike McCarthy would call plays during the following season.
49.
Mike McCarthy's return set up a difficult dynamic, where he and his entire coaching staff entered the last year of their contracts, without the possibility of an extension.
50.
Mike McCarthy was forced to replace defensive coordinator Dan Quinn who took the head coach position with the Washington Commanders with Mike Zimmer.
51.
In 2007, Mike McCarthy was voted the Motorola NFL Coach of the Year after twice receiving Coach of the Week awards.
52.
Mike McCarthy was named the NFL Alumni's Coach of the Year by a group of former players.
53.
In 2008, Mike McCarthy received the distinguished service award at the Lee Remmel sports awards banquet in Green Bay.
54.
Mike McCarthy was selected as National Football Conference Assistant Coach of the Year by USA Today in 2000.
55.
On February 26,2019, Mike McCarthy was accused of berating three high school basketball referees after his stepson's playoff game.
56.
Mike McCarthy went on a "verbal tirade" while following the officials to their locker room.
57.
Mike McCarthy apologized to the school's athletic department the next day.
58.
Mike McCarthy is a culinary enthusiast and has a history of supporting local restaurants and chefs throughout his coaching career.
59.
In 2013, Mike McCarthy partnered with Curly's Pub at Lambeau Field to create the "Mac Attack" burger.
60.
Ten percent of the proceeds from all the sales of Mike McCarthy's burger went to his philanthropic organization, the Mike McCarthy Family Foundation.