It’s not a hire that’s going to sell any tickets, but it might be the key to the future for the New York Giants — finding a steady hand to guide the career of quarterback and 2025 first round pick Jaxson Dart.
That steady hand could very well be former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
“The Giants are scheduled to interview Super Bowl-winning coach Mike McCarthy for their head coaching job Tuesday, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on X. “McCarthy has a .608 career winning percentage, 12 playoff trips in 18 seasons and a strong QB development background. A logical fit with Jaxson Dart.”
McCarthy coached the Cowboys for 5 seasons but did not see his contract renewed following the 2024 season after the Cowboys went 7-10 — that followed 3 consecutive seasons with a 12-5 record and 3 consecutive playoff berths.
The Cowboys turned to former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach and went 7-9-1 in 2025, capping the season with an embarrassing loss to the Giants in Week 18.
Giants Might Not Be Only Team After McCarthy
With 7 head coach openings around the NFL — so far — the Giants won’t be the only team chasing McCarthy.
The other, obvious opening would be for a team with another 2025 first round pick in the Tennessee Titans, who took quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and watched him stumble to a 3-14 record and last-place finish in the AFC South.
The Titans were bad enough that head coach Brian Callahan was fired after just 5 games.
McCarthy’s success with young quarterbacks includes a Super Bowl win with a 27-year-old Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers following the 2010 season and turning Dak Prescott into an NFL MVP candidate in Dallas.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer put McCarthy among the leading candidates to take over the Titans and work with Ward.
“The initial thought, post–Brian Callahan, had been to find more experience and someone who could work with Cam Ward,” Breer wrote on Monday, December 1. “Along those lines, and tied into the networks of the guys on hand, ex-Bears coach Matt Nagy (who has ties to general manager Mike Borgonzi) or ex-Cowboys and Packers coach Mike McCarthy (who has ties to president of football operations Chad Brinker) could wind up being the guy. But that hasn’t stopped the Titans from looking at a wide array of candidates, even guys such as Chargers DC Jesse Minter and Rams DC Chris Shula, who don’t fit into the above box.”
Giants May Have Hearts Set on Harbaugh
The Giants may be interviewing McCarthy as a backup plan after the Baltimore Ravens fired Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday, January 6, after 18 seasons.
Harbaugh appears to have shot to the top of the list for the Giants.
“Sources: John Harbaugh is expected to emerge as a favorite for the head coaching job of the New York Giants,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on January 6. “Harbaugh will be in demand for many teams, not just the Giants.”
“I’d think John Harbaugh would be a perfect fit in New York with the Giants,” ESPN’s Peter Schrager wrote on his official X account. “A QB, several pass rushers, a number 1 wide receiver, 2 young RBs, cap space, and a top 5 pick.”
Former Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Set to Interview With Hated Rival