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Bill Belichick sent shockwaves throughout the football world with a decision to accept the head coaching role at the University of North Carolina. The six-time Super winner is leaving the NFL for the NCAA.
Before accepting the job, Belichick was considered a frontrunner for the Dallas Cowboys should they opt to move on from Mike McCarthy. After hearing the news, McCarthy sounded excited.
“Wow, that’s great. That’s a beautiful place. No, I’m serious. I think it’s cool, I really do. Coaching is coaching.
“I’ll say one thing, they’ll be someone to be reckoned with. I have a lot of respect for Bill and the job that he’s always done. He was always very difficult to compete against… Congratulations to him. I’m happy for him.”
-Mike McCarthy (via Jon Machota of The Athletic)
McCarthy’s job security in Dallas has been noted over the last few years. While the Cowboys have made the postseason in three of his four seasons at the helm, they’ve gone just 1-3 playoff contests.
The heat has been cranked up this year with the team off to a 5-8 start. Dallas is likely to miss out on the postseason as it currently sits at 13th in the 16-team NFC.
Injuries have played a part, riddling a once dominant defense while also forcing a change under center. Jerry Jones has taken that into consideration, voicing his support of Mike McCarthy throughout the year.
“Let me just say this quickly,” the owner said following a 27-20 loss to Cincinnati. “Mike is an outstanding coach. He has an outstanding record. He’s got great experience.”
That support didn’t stop the media from speculating on McCarthy’s job status. Reports linking Bill Belichick to the organization surfaced as the Cowboys got off to their slow start. If a change was to be made, he’d be Target No. 1.
Belichick was reportedly willing to listen to a Dallas offer. He wasn’t, however, sold on the idea of the Cowboys moving on from Mike McCarthy at year’s end. Rather than wait and see, he jumped at the UNC job.
That means McCarthy will have one less person gunning for his head coaching gig. He congratulated Belichick after the fact, but it sounded more like a sigh of relief.