The 2023 NFL season is months away, but there is already speculation regarding what coaches are on the hot seat around the league. Indeed, the upcoming campaign will be a make-or-break year for several coaches, not the least of which is Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry. While Barry’s job depends on his ability to finally utilize the talent and resources the team has put into the defense, one former Packers coach, Mike McCarthy, is considered by some to be on the hot seat with the Dallas Cowboys.
Former Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy Is on the Hot Seat with the Dallas Cowboys
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report recently wrote an article listing six NFL head coaches that he believes are on the hot seat in 2023. While Matt LaFleur is not on his list, former Packers coach Mike McCarthy is:
“It’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly has gone wrong, as Dallas has been faring well in nearly every facet of the game during the regular season. It rated as both a top-five scoring offense and defense this past season and has stars across the roster, including a competent quarterback in Dak Prescott.
“While Prescott may not be in the very upper echelon of NFL passers and has dealt with some injury woes over the past few years, he’s also earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods and boasts a respectable 61-36 record across his seven seasons as a starter.
“The Cowboys have crumpled when their season is on the line, though, which may be an indictment of McCarthy’s game-planning and preparation. When comparing his regular-season numbers to his playoff stats, Prescott’s completion percentage and yards per attempt have dipped while his interception rate has risen.
“The high-powered Cowboys offense, which averaged 27.5 points last year and a league-best 31.2 points in 2021, scored a combined 29 points across their two season-ending defeats to the Niners.
“While McCarthy said he’s in an “excellent spot” with Jerry Jones and claimed that the team owner wants to have him on the Dallas sidelines for as long as Tom Landry was—the Hall of Famer was at the reins of the organization for 29 years and won two Super Bowls and an NFL Championship—it’s hard to envision a scenario in which he continues in his current role without at least getting to a conference championship game this year.
Has there ever been a time when a head coach of the Dallas Cowboys has not been on the hot seat under owner Jerry Jones? That being said, McCarthy has not delivered in the Playoffs, as Kay references above. This offseason, the Cowboys fired their offensive coordinator and McCarthy will likely be taking on play-calling duties. Will his expertise in this area of the game be enough to push Dallas through in the Playoffs?
That remains to be seen. The fact of the matter is that the Cowboys have high expectations every year, and every year they disappoint. While Jones and McCarthy may be in a good place right now, a poor regular season or first-round playoff loss may change that.
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