Mike McCarthy is not going anywhere – at least as long as the Green Bay Packers will have him, which they showed today is for the foreseeable future.
In his afternoon press conference, Coach McCarthy acknowledged the unusual move (especially for the Packers) of extending a head coaches’ contract in mid-season. No terms have been yet released.
McCarthys’s current contract ran through the end of the 2015 season, and one can likely assume the extension was for three years, which would sync his contract with that of GM Ted Thompson. Thompson received an extension through the 2018 season back in July.
In his press conference, McCarthy stated, “This is a great place. I’m very blessed, very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach here. This is something that the organization wanted. I was thrilled about the opportunity to continue, so that’s all I’m really thinking about is moving forward.”
When asked about how long he might want to coach, McCarthy chuckled and replied, “I’m a young guy. I’m not thinking about the end, that’s for sure. This is a great place. I’m very blessed, fortunate to have the opportunity to coach here. That’s all I’m really thinking about. In fact, I’m a little uncomfortable talking about it at this time of the year.”
From a personal standpoint, while I sometimes question whether McCarthy has had his team properly ready for “big games,” and often scratch my head at some of his play calling, I do recognize that good NFL head coaches do not grow on trees. McCarthy has the personality and integrity the Packers organization covets and the demeanor and leadership skills that earns the respect of his players.
McCarthy’s team has made the playoffs five years in a row. Only future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Belichick can make the same claim.
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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Excellent news!! McCarthy, Thompson and Rodgers came in together and will probably all leave together. Continuity is very difficult in the NFL but Green Bay definitely has it.
I am sure this probably explains some of MM’s questionable calls lately. His mind was obviously on the contract extension. Now that it’s out of the way I expect smooth sailing for this team going forward. Congrats Mike on the extension. Glad to have you back for a few more years. Nothing wrong with that.
You are joking, right? If his mind was on his contract rather than on the play-calling, that would be very unprofessional.
No, I am not joking. McCarthy has a family to feed. His future was uncertain. TT was signed long term but not MM. I am sure it was bugging him and affecting his decision making this first half of the season and possibly his family life at home who knows.
I think what lead to this deal getting done was probably the Peppers as a receiver and the onside kick decision last week. The Packers probably realized the longer this goes on the more poor decisions he’s likely to make so they signed him to the deal this bye to stop the bad decision making.
I am looking at this as one step up and two steps back for this first half. Now that this contract is out of the way expect two steps up and one step back. Congrats to you big Mac!!
When do you think they announce the Capers and Slocum extensions?
Dont even think it
Don’t worry their lucrative contracts are on the way…
Yes he was making dumbazz calls because he was worried about his contract. Wasn’t sure if the family was going to be able to eat tonight. Me thinks he can make dumbazz calls even with a new contract.
You might want to recalibrate your sarcasm detector.
I have mixed feelings about this extension. I like consistency, stability and loyalty in a franchise. I would also like to see the team move ahead. Can McCarthy elevate this team beyond the average. We have persistent problems on this team that coaching has not effectively addressed over the last 4-5 years. We have a well-know offense that lives or dies on Rodgers arm. Could the offense reach higher levels with a better play caller? We have even struggled to keep our top spot in a division that has been in disarray these last few years.
I appreciate winning more games than we lose and, apparently, so does management. But, like most things in business, if you aren’t improving you are dying. Resigning McCarthy is comfortable. I don’t see it bring a championship in Rodgers career.
I do not think it is McCarthy as a game-day coach that is the issue. I look more at the strategic makeup of the team and the defensive philosophy as culprits.
If Capers is shown the dooras part of this re-signing package, then I am OK with it.