Mike McCarthy is one of the most successful coaches in the storied history of the Packers, but for the first time as a head coach, he finds himself on the opposite sideline.
McCarthy is back at Lambeau Field with the Cowboys, and it's Dallas that finds itself in better shape four years after Green Bay made the decision to part with the coach who helped deliver a championship.
McCarthy became emotional this week when he was asked what he misses most about Green Bay. He choked up after telling reporters his daughters were born there.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was asked today what he and his family miss most about Green Bay. Cowboys play at Packers this Sunday. Video via @dallascowboys. pic.twitter.com/6v9ofFBwP8
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) November 7, 2022
The 59-year-old said he addressed his return in a team meeting early in the week to prevent the storyline from becoming a distraction. He told he's "the last person" who would want to create a distraction.
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Nevertheless, McCarthy knows this is a unique week. He told reporters he's looking forward to seeing Aaron Rodgers, who he says made him "a much better coach" during their time together.
Here's all you need to know about why the Packers fired McCarthy:
Why did the Packers fire Mike McCarthy?
The Packers made a rare midseason coaching change on Dec. 2, 2018, firing McCarthy hours after a stunning loss to the two-win Cardinals.
Green Bay reached the playoffs more often than not under McCarthy, but his tenure began to be defined by a lack of playoff success in the years after winning Super Bowl 45.
The Packers won only three playoff games between 2011 and 2015, when they went 56-23-1 in the regular season, and they never returned to the Super Bowl despite Rodgers' excellence.
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The wheels fell off in McCarthy's final two seasons. The Packers missed the playoffs at 7-9 in 2017, though Rodgers missed a large chunk of the season with a broken collarbone. With Rodgers healthy in 2018, Green Bay wasn't any better. The Packers were 4-7-1 at the time of McCarthy's firing and had lost five of their last six.
"The 2018 season has not lived up to the expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers," team president Mark Murphy said after McCarthy's firing.
McCarthy later said he spent his year off from football in 2019 studying offenses to inject more creativity into his own offense, an indication that he thought a stale scheme was a factor in his exit.
Mike McCarthy coaching record
McCarthy's 125 victories with the Packers trail only Curly Lambeau (209) on the franchise's all-time list. If he defeats his former team on Sunday, he will become the 23rd coach in NFL history to reach 150 wins.
| Years | Team | W | L | T | Pct. |
| 2006-2018 | Packers | 125 | 75 | 2 | .618 |
| 2020-present | Cowboys | 24 | 17 | 0 | .585 |
| Total | 149 | 94 | 2 | .612 |
How long has Mike McCarthy coached the Cowboys?
McCarthy is in his third season as the Cowboys' head coach. Dallas hired McCarthy on Jan. 6, 2020, one day after formally announcing Jason Garrett wouldn't return.
Though he's enjoyed major success over the last two seasons, McCarthy's job status could be tenuous if the season doesn't end the way Dallas hopes.
Jerry Jones didn't immediately back McCarthy after last year's early playoff exit, telling reporters, "I've got a lot to think about regarding these coaches."
Jones later rejected the idea he ever considered firing McCarthy, saying he believes McCarthy can win a Super Bowl in Dallas, but there are two reasons why Jones may revisit his job status if this season ends in disappointment: Sean Payton and Dan Quinn.
MORE: McCarthy weighs in on Sean Payton rumors: 'We laughed about it'
Payton was nearly hired by the Cowboys in 2019 and is available to be hired at any time after leaving the Saints after last season. Quinn, meanwhile, has done an outstanding job coordinating the Cowboys' defense and will be a head coach again elsewhere if not in Dallas.
For now, McCarthy has quieted most speculation about his job in 2022. The Cowboys have beaten expectations at 6-2 despite missing Dak Prescott (thumb) for five games, and they look like one of the stronger teams in the NFC.
Still, if he once again can't find success in the playoffs, the rumors will quickly reignite.
