The New Orleans Saints ended the 2024 NFL season with a disappointing 5-12 overall record and are now looking for the right person to become their next head coach. One of the top candidates for the job was former Dallas Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy, but he recently pulled out of the running, drawing massive concerns from Saints fans.
NFL Fans React as Mike McCarthy Takes His Name Out of New Orleans Head Coaching Search
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that McCarthy has decided to take a year off and focus on the 2026 hiring cycle and is not interested in coaching this NFL season.
Former #Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has decided to focus on the 2026 hiring cycle and will not coach in the NFL this season, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
McCarthy, who has made the playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons, is expected to be a strong candidate a year from now. pic.twitter.com/Vr8mMijIkq
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 29, 2025
Despite the struggles this year, McCarthy had a fairly successful run as the Cowboys’ head coach. He accumulated a record of 49-35 in his tenure, including three postseason appearances, although Dallas couldn’t advance past the Divisional Round.
Hearing McCarthy’s decision, NFL fans couldn’t help but feel concerned about the Saints’ future.
“Saints just a dumpster fire,” one fan said.
“Sorry Coach Mike, given the current circumstances, maybe we were little too harsh, I’d welcome him back just based on the fact we replaced him with a nobody,” one Cowboys fan said.
Saints are down bad. Do they have cap space? No. Do they have a Head Coach? No. Do they have a QB1? No, but everything else is amazing.
— Adam (@RMEChief) January 29, 2025
“Saints are down bad. Do they have cap space? No. Do they have a Head Coach? No. Do they have a QB1? No, but everything else is amazing,” another fan commented.
Another fan added, “Is he going to meet every week in his basement with his future coaching staff again and pretend they are preparing for the following year after they get hired? Lolololol.”
Nobody wants the Saints job… No cap space, no QB, bad QB class, and the team doesn’t draft high enough for one if the top two. Saints need to blow up the team and eat all the dead cap once and for all. Hard reset
— vic (@themanvic) January 29, 2025
“Nobody wants the Saints job… No cap space, no QB, bad QB class, and the team doesn’t draft high enough for one if the top two. Saints need to blow up the team and eat all the dead cap once and for all. Hard reset,” another fan pointed out.
“Mike McCarthy taking a year off from coaching. That reminded me of another coach should I do the exact same thing last year? That’s right it’s Bill Belichick. And now Bill Belichick is coaching college football with the university of North Carolina Tar Heels.
“I wonder where Mike McCarthy will be in a year from now in 2026. Will mike coach in the NFL. Or will he fallow in Bills footsteps and coach college football. Time will tell so let’s wait and find out.” another fan pointed out a possibility.
Now that McCarthy is out of the running for the Saints job, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who just had a second interview with the franchise, seems to be the favorite.