Mike McCarthy is a prominent figure in American football, currently serving as the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys. His coaching career began with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, and he later gained recognition as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. McCarthy's most notable achievement was leading the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011, culminating a successful tenure with the Packers from 2006 to 2018. He took over head coaching duties with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
November 10, 1963: Birth of Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy was born on November 10, 1963.
1984: Scottsdale Community College
Mike McCarthy attended Scottsdale Community College in 1984 and played football for the Fighting Artichokes.
1986: Baker University Football Team Captain
In 1986, Mike McCarthy served as captain of the Baker University football team, leading them to a national runner-up finish in NAIA Division II.
1987: Graduation from Baker University
Mike McCarthy graduated from Baker University with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1987.
1987: Graduate Assistant at Fort Hays State University
Mike McCarthy started as a defensive graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University in 1987.
1987: End of Graduate Assistantship at Fort Hays State
Mike McCarthy's time as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University ended in 1987.
1988: End of Graduate Assistantship at Fort Hays State
Mike McCarthy concluded his role as graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University in 1988.
July 30, 1989: Volunteer Coach at University of Pittsburgh
On July 30, 1989, Mike McCarthy began working as a volunteer coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
1989: Master's Degree in Sports Administration
Mike McCarthy earned his M.S. in Sports Administration from Fort Hays State University in 1989.
1992: Wide Receivers Coach at University of Pittsburgh
In 1992, Mike McCarthy became the wide receivers coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
1993: Offensive Quality Control Assistant, Kansas City Chiefs
Mike McCarthy started working as an offensive quality control assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993.
1994: Continued work with the Kansas City Chiefs
Mike McCarthy continued his role with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994.
1995: Quarterbacks Coach, Kansas City Chiefs
Mike McCarthy became the quarterbacks coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995.
1996: Super Bowl XXXI Victory
In 1996, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI, bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.
1998: Low Interception Rate with Chiefs Quarterbacks
From 1995 to 1998, the quarterbacks coached by Mike McCarthy at the Kansas City Chiefs had the lowest interception rate in the AFC.
1998: Quarterbacks Coach, Green Bay Packers
In 1998, Mike McCarthy became the quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers.
1999: Brett Favre's Success under McCarthy
Under Mike McCarthy's coaching in 1999, Brett Favre achieved the fourth-best passing yardage total of his career.
2000: Offensive Coordinator, New Orleans Saints
In 2000, Mike McCarthy became the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
2002: Saints Lead NFC in Scoring
The New Orleans Saints, with Mike McCarthy as offensive coordinator, led the NFC in scoring in 2002.
2002: Start of Three Consecutive NFC North Titles
The Packers won the NFC North title in 2002, the first of three in a row.
2003: High-Scoring Season for the Saints
The New Orleans Saints had their eighth highest-scoring season in 2003 under Mike McCarthy's offensive coordination.
2004: End of Tenure with New Orleans Saints
Mike McCarthy concluded his role as offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in 2004.
2004: End of Three Consecutive NFC North Titles
The Packers' streak of NFC North titles reached three years in 2004.
2005: Offensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers
In 2005, Mike McCarthy was the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
2005: Packers' Losing Season
The Green Bay Packers finished the 2005 season with a 4-12 record.
January 2, 2006: Mike Sherman Released by Packers
The Green Bay Packers released head coach Mike Sherman on January 2, 2006.
January 8, 2006: McCarthy Interviewed by Packers
On January 8, 2006, Mike McCarthy was interviewed for the Green Bay Packers head coaching position.
2006: Green Bay Packers Head Coach
Mike McCarthy began his tenure as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2006.
2006: Packers Finish Season 8-8
The Green Bay Packers, under Mike McCarthy's first year as head coach, finished the 2006 season with an 8-8 record.
2007: Packers Reach NFC Championship
In 2007, Mike McCarthy led the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 regular season record and an appearance in the NFC Championship game.
2007: McCarthy Second in Coach of the Year Voting
Mike McCarthy finished second in the voting for The Associated Press Coach of the Year award in 2007.
January 19, 2008: Contract Extension
On January 19, 2008, Mike McCarthy signed a five-year contract extension with the Green Bay Packers, increasing his salary to $3.4 million per year.
2008: Post-Favre Era Begins
Following Brett Favre's departure, the 2008 season began a new era for the Packers with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
2008: Tumultuous Season
The 2008 season was a challenging one for the Packers. It marked Aaron Rodgers' first year as a starting quarterback after Brett Favre's initial retirement and subsequent trade to the New York Jets. The team finished with a 6-10 record and missed the playoffs.
2009: Rodgers Improves, but Packers Struggle
In 2009, Aaron Rodgers improved his performance, but the Packers faced challenges, including a high number of sacks allowed and losses to key rivals like the Minnesota Vikings. Despite these setbacks, the team managed to achieve an 11-5 record and qualify for the playoffs.
2010: Injury-Ridden Season
The 2010 season saw the Packers grapple with numerous injuries, yet they managed a 10-6 record and secured a playoff berth. This season highlighted the team's resilience despite facing significant adversity.
2011: Super Bowl XLV Victory
Mike McCarthy led the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.
2011: Record-Setting Season
The 2011 season was a remarkable one for the Packers, achieving a franchise-best 15-1 record and leading the league in points scored. Aaron Rodgers also earned the NFL MVP award.
2012: Back-to-Back NFC North Titles
In 2012, the Packers won the NFC North title for the second consecutive year, reaching the playoffs for the 28th time in franchise history.
2013: Third Consecutive NFC North Title
The 2013 season saw the Packers secure their third consecutive NFC North title and a fifth straight playoff appearance.
November 2014: Contract Extension and Coaching Milestone
In November 2014, Mike McCarthy signed a contract extension through 2018. He also surpassed Vince Lombardi for second place on the Packers' all-time wins list.
2014: "Mike McCarthy Way"
In 2014, Potts Avenue in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, was renamed "Mike McCarthy Way" in honor of the Packers' coach.
2014: Fourth Consecutive NFC North Title
In 2014, the Packers won their fourth consecutive NFC North title with a 12-4 record, showcasing a strong offensive performance.
February 2015: Relinquishes Play Calling Duties
Following the NFC Championship game controversy, McCarthy ceded play-calling responsibilities to Tom Clements in February 2015.
March 2015: Play-Calling Controversy
In March 2015, the aftermath of the NFC Championship loss sparked discussions about McCarthy's play-calling decisions. Despite the criticism, prominent figures like Bill Belichick defended his coaching abilities.
2015: Resumes Play Calling
During the 2015 season, McCarthy resumed play-calling duties after a period of delegating the responsibility.
2015: Death of Mike McCarthy's Brother
Mike McCarthy's brother, Joseph III, passed away in 2015.
2016: Eighth Consecutive Playoff Appearance
In 2016, McCarthy led the Packers to their eighth consecutive playoff appearance, a notable achievement in NFL coaching history.
2017: Rodgers' Injury and Missed Playoffs
The 2017 season was marked by Aaron Rodgers' collarbone injury, impacting the Packers' performance and leading to a missed playoff appearance.
January 2, 2018: One-Year Contract Extension
On January 2, 2018, McCarthy signed a one-year contract extension with the Packers.
December 2, 2018: Released by Packers
On December 2, 2018, Mike McCarthy was released from his position as head coach of the Green Bay Packers after 13 seasons.
2018: End of Tenure with Green Bay Packers
In 2018, Mike McCarthy's time as head coach of the Green Bay Packers ended.
2018: End Date of Contract Extension
McCarthy's contract extension was set to run through 2018.
January 5, 2019: Interviews with Jets
On January 5, 2019, McCarthy interviewed for the head coaching position with the New York Jets, but the job ultimately went to Adam Gase.
January 9, 2019: McCarthy to sit out 2019 season
On January 9, 2019, Mike McCarthy announced his decision to sit out the 2019 NFL season, aiming to return for the 2020 season. During his time away, McCarthy collaborated with fellow coaches to enhance his understanding of football strategies and trends, calling his efforts the 'McCarthy Project'.
February 26, 2019: McCarthy accused of confrontation
On February 26, 2019, Mike McCarthy was accused of confronting high school basketball referees after a playoff game involving his stepson. McCarthy reportedly followed the officials to their locker room, engaging in a verbal tirade. He later apologized to the school's athletic department.
January 7, 2020: McCarthy hired as Cowboys' head coach
On January 7, 2020, Mike McCarthy was announced as the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. McCarthy had spent the previous year analyzing game films and learning about analytics, convincingly telling Jerry Jones during his interview that he watched every play of the 2019 season.
September 13, 2020: McCarthy's Cowboys head coaching debut
On September 13, 2020, Mike McCarthy made his debut as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, losing to the Los Angeles Rams with a score of 20-17. This marked the beginning of his tenure with the team.
July 1, 2021: McCarthy fined by NFL
On July 1, 2021, Mike McCarthy was fined $50,000 by the NFL for violating practice rules during organized team activities. McCarthy acknowledged that most of the plays discussed by the NFL involved younger players.
September 2021: Cowboys featured on Hard Knocks
In September 2021, Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys were featured on HBO's sports documentary 'Hard Knocks'. McCarthy described the experience of having a large camera crew filming their training camp as a positive one.
January 2023: McCarthy announces coaching changes
In January 2023, Mike McCarthy announced significant changes to the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff, including parting ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and six other coaches. These decisions were part of his effort to restructure the team for future success.
February 2023: McCarthy to call plays in upcoming season
In February 2023, team owner Jerry Jones confirmed that Mike McCarthy would assume the role of play-caller for the upcoming season. McCarthy also hired new staff, including assistant offensive line coach Ramon Chinyoung and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
January 2024: Jones retains McCarthy as head coach
In mid-January 2024, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced that Mike McCarthy would continue as head coach, expressing confidence in the team's capability to achieve their ultimate goals.