Mike McCarthy shoots down rumors of potential firing amid uncertain future: 'It's not a story'

Mike McCarthy believes you can take the rumors of his demise and stick them where the sun doesn’t shine.

Throughout his time with the Cowboys, rumors have run rampant that McCarthy isn’t truly the man for the job. Along with freshly-retired former New Orleans Saints leader Sean Payton, coaches like Dallas coordinators Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn have been theorized to potentially taking over for McCarthy.

Evidently, McCarthy isn’t concerning himself with such theories as the 2022 season approaches.

“It’s irritating that the first question you ask me has nothing to do with how I do my job,” McCarthy told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, per Pro Football Talk. “I show up every day for work to win a championship. How do we win today? That’s what I’m asking.

“My viewpoint is it’s not a story. It’s a media-driven narrative, or at least a narrative driven outside my realm.”

Time will tell if the rumors are truly a media-driven story, or if it wasn’t all made out of thin air. Still, Mike McCarthy will have to win to save his job in Dallas — and Jerry Jones is itching to find someone who can get the job done.

Mike McCarthy reveals level of comfort with Dan Quinn compared to 2021

Furthermore, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is confident he made the right choice in making Dan Quinn his defensive coordinator. Quinn joined the Cowboys in 2021 after six years with the Atlanta Falcons, and by all accounts had a successful first season in the Lone Star State.

Dallas went from the 28th overall scoring defense in the NFL in 2020 to the seventh-best in the league this past season. They also forced a league-best 34 turnovers highlighted by cornerback Trevon Diggs‘ 11 interceptions. Based on what he’s seen so far this offseason, McCarthy has even bigger expectations for the Dallas defense in 2022 under Quinn.

“I have great confidence in Dan,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s like when any new staff comes together and the head coach has a vision of how the football team is supposed to play, what they’re supposed to look like. Clearly from Year 1 to Year 2, I thought we did an excellent job changing the personnel as far as profiles and getting the players that fit that. I think that’s clearly illustrated in our front and safety play. The success we had particularly in the second half of the season, the ability to be able to go off of that.

“You can really feel that in Dan’s environment with the defense and clearly with the veterans bringing young guys in too. We’re clearly more ahead today than we were at this time last year.”