In the NFL, we more often than not come across coaches that have been dedicated to the league for well over half of their lifetime. Be it as a player first and a coach, or just a coach starting from the bottom and working his way up the ranks, these people have dedicated a huge chunk of their professional lives to the league. The Dallas Cowboys current head coach, Mike McCarthy is a prime example of this.
McCarthy was a tight end in college when he played on the Baker University’s football team but he went undrafted in the 1987 NFL Draft. Although his dream of playing in the NFL never materialized, McCarthy turned his attention towards coaching.
Mike McCarthy with the Packers
In 2006 the Green Bay Packers gave McCarthy his first ever head coaching job. The Packers were coming off a terrible year finishing the season with a losing record after nearly fourteen years, a change was evident at Lambeau Field. The first year in charge was a building phase and McCarthy found a way to steady the ship as the team finished 8-8.
From 2007 onwards, McCarthy got the Packers back to winning ways and although they had a down year in 2008, the rest of his time in the frozen tundra region was quite impressive at least from a regular season standpoint. Somehow for some reason or the other, the team was able to reach only one Super Bowl in his thirteen year career even with the likes of the great Aaron Rodgers pulling the strings from the quarterback position.
Mike McCarthy Super Bowl
By the time the 2010 NFL season came along, McCarthy had four years under his belt as a head coach and as the off field leader of the Packers. The team hadn’t been the best one in the league in that time but they had made two postseasons and had been to an NFC Championship Game once.
Finishing second in the NFC North in the 2010 regular season, the Packers took care of business against the Eagles, Falcons, and Bears en route to the title game. Super Bowl XLV was set between the Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC.
The Packers jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the back of one offensive and one defensive touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers found Jordy Nelson for the first score of the game followed by a pick six by Nick Collins.
Heading into the half, the Packers led 21-10 as the Steelers tried to claw themselves back into the game. The Steelers first up a field goal on the very next play before each team traded touchdowns before the second quarter came to an end.
Coming out of halftime, the Steelers started showing more fight and the third quarter saw them score a touchdown while they held the Packers to zero points. With the score at 21-17 in favor of the Packers, Rodgers once again led them to another touchdown in the fourth quarter making it 28-17. But the Steelers were not done yet and they came right back marching down the field for another touchdown. This time they went for the two point conversion and brought the game to within a field goal as the score read 28-25.
With seven odd minutes left in the game, the Packers next drive ended with a field goal giving them a 31-25 lead. The Steelers had one last chance to come back with just over 2 minutes left in the game but were unable to get the job done.
As a result Mike McCarthy won his first and only Super Bowl till date with the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL season.
FAQs
A. As a head coach Mike McCarthy is currently coaching his second team. He first coached the Packers, and is now with the Cowboys from 2020.
A. The Green Bay Packers first offered Mike McCarthy a head coach job in 2006.
A. Mike McCarthy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1963.
A. Mike McCarthy has been coaching in the NFL for nearly three decades.
