Mike McCarthy is going to take a one-year break from being an NFL head coach.
After parting ways with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that McCarthy has decided to focus on the 2026 hiring cycle and will not coach in 2025.
McCarthy’s contract with Dallas expired on Jan. 8 following a 7-10 season. The Cowboys went 12-5 each of the three years before that, but still haven't been past the divisional round of the NFC playoffs since their last Super Bowl at the end of the 1995 season.
Before taking the Dallas job after a full season out of coaching, McCarthy was the head coach of the Packers for 13 seasons and had a 125-77-2 record from 2006-18. He was 10-8 in the playoffs and led Green Bay to a Super Bowl title 14 years ago.
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After parting ways with Dallas, McCarthy interviewed for the Chicago Bears job, but the Bears hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson instead.
The only team that is still without a head coach is the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans was reportedly trying to schedule an in-person interview with McCarthy, but it appears the Saints will now have to turn their attention elsewhere.
Philadelphia Eagles offensive co-ordinator Kellen Moore is one of the favourites to land the Saints job.
— With files from the Associated Press
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