Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys mutually agreed to part ways after this past NFL season. He finished his tenure in Dallas with a record of 49-35 in the regular season and 1-3 in the playoffs.
McCarthy is among the top candidates to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady were the other candidates for the job, but based on recent reports, neither of them is interested in becoming the NFC South team’s head coach.
In fact, Brady withdrew his name from the search and we’ll get more clarity on Kingsbury in the coming days now that the Commanders have been eliminated from the playoffs.
Saints Fans React To Latest HC News
Before the Bills kicked off against the Kansas City Chiefs, news came out that Brady had decided to stay with quarterback Josh Allen and head coach Sean McDermott next season. As for Kingsbury, he has yet to decide whether he will interview with the Saints. But it would not be surprising if he stayed in Washington rather than pursue a head coaching opportunity in New Orleans.
As a result, McCarthy, along with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, are the remaining top candidates for the job. However, the majority of Saints fans on social media believe the former Super Bowl-winning head coach is likely to be Dennis Allen’s replacement.
Here are some of the reactions based on New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill’s tweet breaking down the current situation.
Underhill said, “I’m told that Kliff Kingsbury hasn’t decided whether or not to take an interview with the Saints. He’s fully locked in on Washington’s season and won’t begin evaluating his options until they’re done playing.”
Mike McCarthy welcome to new Orleans !
— 337tigerden (@sthib152) January 25, 2025
“Shouldn’t even be considering him [Kingsbury]. Stay clear of him and [Joe] Brady. Thank goodness Brady isn’t coming here,” said a fan.
“Him and Kellen [Moore] are both staying and I don’t blame them,” added another fan.
Mike McCarthy, come on down. pic.twitter.com/g2Ev5cHAOC
— Fleur⚜️de⚜️Licious (@whodatholly9) January 25, 2025
“Welcome Mike McCarthy and fire Mickey Loomis,” wrote a fan.
“That’s why it’s going to be Mike McCarthy, and we just need to accept it,” said a fan after Brady decided to withdraw from consideration to become the Saints’ head coach.
One fan added, “Mike McCarthy will be the Saints’ next Head Coach, like it or not. Joe Brady or Kliff Kingsbury will be better suited for Cincinnati, the New York Giants, etc.”
Mike McCarthy me… https://t.co/CiRUa4YpqR
— Ewell Netter (@Ewell_Netter) January 25, 2025
The Saints are the only team left in the NFL without a head coach. The NFC South franchise aims for stability, as Allen failed to provide it after replacing Sean Payton.
He finished with a disappointing record of 18-25 in three seasons, and the team has many issues to address, which will be hard to overcome for a person who has no prior experience as a head coach in the league.
Why Mike McCarthy Would Be An Ideal Hire For The Saints
The Saints are in a terrible salary cap situation and must go on a rebuild to compete in the future. Their current roster is not good enough to win the Super Bowl, and the longer they delay the rebuild, the more time it will take to be a stable franchise again.
Due to their difficult situation, McCarthy will be an ideal hire for the Saints. He can develop a young quarterback if the team decides to draft one, as continuing with Derek Carr might be best for the franchise. Moreover, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach will also be well-loved by the players, which will help keep the team’s morale high during a rebuild.
“I know I am in the minority here, but I don’t let one poor season take away from 36 wins over the previous three seasons,” said Pro Football Network’s Chief Stats and Insights Officer. “McCarthy is a Super Bowl winning coach who has had success in Dallas despite the playoff losses and isn’t the main reason for the Cowboys woes. Not sure there’s a guy out there that is going to do better with this season.”
The NFC South has been the weakest division in the NFL for many years, but things are now changing. Bryce Young showed immense improvement this past season, and the Carolina Panthers could compete for the division title next season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons already have a roster that is good enough to make a run at the division title, which is why the Saints must act quickly and tear down the roster to build from scratch.
New Orleans has the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so they might not get their quarterback of the future this year. As a result, the franchise should look to trade or cut Derek Carr, and give Spencer Rattler a run of games to prove his worth under the new head coach.
If he doesn’t work out, the team will be in a position to get a top quarterback in next year’s draft, which will be the best possible outcome for the franchise.
