Mike McCarthy is now officially a candidate for two head coaching jobs. After scheduling his interview with the Giants, the former Packers and Cowboys head coach is also set to interview for the Titans vacancy, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The interview is scheduled for next Saturday.
Besides being one of the most experienced head coaching options on the market, McCarthy also has a connection to Titans leadership. Tennessee’s President of Football Operations Chad Brinker worked alongside McCarthy during their decade-plus tenures in Green Bay. Brinker worked his way up from a scouting intern to football administration executive. He left to be the Titans assistant GM in 2023, and he was given full control of the team’s roster in 2024 following Ran Carthon‘s ouster.
Following a 7-10 showing in 2024, McCarthy wasn’t retained as the Cowboys head coach. He still remained in the HC circuit last offseason, interviewing for open positions with the Bears and Saints. He obviously didn’t get either of those two gigs, and he ended up spending the 2025 campaign out of the NFL.
McCarthy made a name for himself as an offensive-minded coach while working with the likes of Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott. That would make him a natural fit for the Titans, who are looking to maximize 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward. In 18 years as a head coach, McCarthy only had five seasons where he finished with a losing record. This would surely be alluring for a Titans organization that hasn’t finished above .500 since the 2021 season.
As mentioned, the Titans aren’t the only team eyeing McCarthy. The coach is set to interview for the open Giants job next week. New York will have the first opportunity to speak to the long-time coach, with that interview scheduled for Tuesday.
McCarthy joins a growing list of candidates for the Titans gig. The current list of definitive and potential targets includes:
- Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator (Colts): To interview’
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Mentioned as candidate
- Jason Garrett, former offensive coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/7
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Mentioned as candidate
- Mike McCoy, interim head coach (Titans): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Mentioned as candidate
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): To interview 1/12
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): To interview 1/8
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Mentioned as candidate
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Mentioned as candidate
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): To interview 1/10
More to come…
Smart if they go with him. Cam needs a known QB guru.
Is Mike McCarthy a great QB guru or was he lucky enough to be given Favre, Rodgers, and Prescott, two of whom were fully formed when he got to them.
True about Farve but Rodgers learned and became great under McCarthy. Prescott had his best seasons and a better QB…might be time for people to accept he is a good coach.
Kellen Moore was running the offense most of that time.
I’m not saying McCarthy is a bad coach, but I think he’s an uninspired choice who’s gotten a lot of mileage out of working with top quarterbacks and Dan Quinn.
The guy is a Super Bowl winning coach with an over .600 winning percentage in the league. He’s a great coach. That’s like saying Andy Reid who had Donovan mcnabb, Alex smith and mahomes is riding the coattails of those 3 QBs
Reid has won more than one, and he developed two of those three from day one. I’m not saying McCarthy is a bad coach, but I also think his schemes are behind the times and I would expect him to get stagnant in three years.
Been saying since they fired Callahan, McCarthy seems like a titans guy.
His track record with QBs would be good for Ward. Don’t screw up wards development kid has loads of potential
Robert Saleh or Arthur Smith please, no doubt each would be great hires.
Let em coach, dont interfere.
Why Arthur Smith?