Packers fire Mike McCarthy after home loss to Cardinals
The Green Bay Packers announced they fired head coach Mike McCarthy on Sunday during his 13th season at the helm.
Packers have fired Mike McCarthy and named Joe Philbin interim HC.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 3, 2018
President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Murphy released a statement on the team’s decision:
“The 2018 season has not lived up to the expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers. As a result, I made the difficult decision to relieve Mike McCarthy of his role as head coach, effective immediately. Mike has been a terrific head coach and leader of the Packers for 13 seasons, during which time we experienced a great deal of success on and off the field. We want to thank Mike, his wife, Jessica, and the rest of the McCarthy family for all that they have done for the Packers and the Green Bay and Wisconsin communities. We will immediately begin the process of selecting the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers.”
The decision came following Green Bay’s 20-17 loss at home against the Arizona Cardinals, which dropped its record to an abysmal 4-7-1. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin will serve as the interim head coach.
The 55-year-old Pennsylvania native proceeded to lead Green Bay to a 125-77-2 record during the regular season and a 10-8 mark in the playoffs. Four of those 10 wins came in a single postseason when he led the Packers to a triumph in Super Bowl XLV, the team’s fourth Super Bowl title and 13th championship.
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Firing Mike McCarthy, as Packers did, is almost unprecedented. Former Colts HC Don McCafferty was only HC prior to McCarthy with a SB win to his credit to not finish a season he started. Colts fired McCafferty five games into 1972 season after winning Super Bowl with him in 1970.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 3, 2018
While the Packers won at least 10 games eight times in McCarthy’s first 11 seasons, their drop in performance over the last two years led to his departure.
Green Bay finished 7-9 in 2017 and is on the outside of the playoff picture looking in again in 2018.
