According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers headman removed himself from the New Orleans Saints head coaching race last night. McCarthy’s intentions will now be on the 2026 head coaching cycle.

Mike McCarthy is out of the running for the New Orleans Saints' head coaching job and no longer plans to coach in 2025, ESPN reported late Tuesday. The Dallas Cowboys didn't renew the contract of McCarthy following a 7-10 season in 2024.

Reports late Tuesday night surfaced that Mike McCarthy is no longer in consideration for the New Orleans Saints head coach vacancy. McCarthy, 61, had been the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for the last five seasons.

Mike McCarthy has decided against coaching in 2025, removing himself as a candidate to fill the NFL’s last remaining head coaching vacancy with the New Orleans Saints.

Mike McCarthy has pulled himself out of the Saints head coach search. NFL Network reports he’s taking the year off and will look for work in 2026:

Many fans took to social media following news of Mike McCarthy backing out of the New Orleans Saints coaching search:

McCarthy is the third high-profile candidate to pull out of the Saints' search, joining Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

The New Orleans Saints have the NFL's only head coaching vacancy left. They're talking to Mike McCarthy, but negotiations aren't going well.

Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints, who also covers the NBA and MLB. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management, ran his own website, and had bylines at FanSided and the Basketball Network.