ARIZONA CARDINALS
Mike McCarthy agrees to become Dallas Cowboys head coach
Jan 6, 2020, 8:45 AM
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2018, file photo, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy watches the team's NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
A person with direct knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press the Dallas Cowboys and Mike McCarthy have agreed on a deal for the former Green Bay coach to replace Jason Garrett.
McCarthy confirmed the news to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the Cowboys haven’t announced the hiring.
McCarthy interviewed over the weekend before the Cowboys had announced Garrett wasn’t returning. Garrett had an expiring contract coming off a make-or-break season that ended with Dallas missing the playoffs for the sixth time in his nine full seasons.
The 56-year-old McCarthy won a Super Bowl with the Packers on the Cowboys’ home field nine years ago. Green Bay made nine trips to the playoffs in his 13 years. McCarthy was fired Dec. 2, 2018, hours after a home loss to an Arizona Cardinals team that finished 3-13 last year.
McCarthy’s hiring means that Arizona State special advisor Marvin Lewis will not be taking the head-coaching job in Dallas.
The Cowboys interviewed Lewis on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Lewis has been a special advisor to Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards’ staff since May of 2019. As a head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003-2018, Lewis had a 131-122-3 record in the regular season and an 0-7 mark in the playoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
