As the Dallas Cowboys seek a new head coach in the wake of parting ways with Mike McCarthy, arguably their best player is crushed.
"I'm obviously very sad because of the relationships we had with Coach McCarthy and everything he's done for our program," star linebacker Micah Parsons said on his podcast "The Edge with Micah Parsons." "Three straight 12-5 seasons, playoff appearances and obviously an unfortunate year due to injuries. ... It is devastating.
"El entrenador Mike es un gran padre, un gran entrenador. Uno de los entrenadores más ganadores. Siempre ha sido bueno con nosotros como unidad, entrenadores, jugadores. Perder a un gran entrenador como Mike duele".
The Cowboys went 7-10 this season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, in large part because quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 8.
En las cinco temporadas de McCarthy en Dallas, los Cowboys sumaron un 49-35 en la temporada regular y un 1-3 en la postemporada. Ganaron 12 partidos en tres temporadas consecutivas (2021-23), ganaron la NFC Este dos veces (2021 y 2023) y se perdieron los playoffs dos veces (2020 y 2024).
Prior to being hired by the Cowboys, McCarthy was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18, posting a 125-77-2 regular-season record and 10-8 postseason record. His time in Green Bay is highlighted by the franchise winning Super Bowl XLV. McCarthy ranks 13th in NFL history with 174 combined wins as a head coach.
En cuanto a Parsons, el linebacker de cuarto año suma 12,0 sacks, 43,0 placajes combinados y dos fumbles forzados en 13 partidos esta temporada. Se perdió cuatro partidos por una lesión de tobillo. Parsons ha sido dos veces All-Pro y ha obtenido honores Pro Bowl en cada una de sus cuatro temporadas en NFL.
Dallas boasted one of the league's best defenses under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn from 2021-23, finishing no worse than seventh in opponent points per game in each of those three seasons. However, Quinn left Dallas to become the new head coach of the Washington Commanders last offseason, with the Cowboys hiring former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer as DC.
La defensa de los Cowboys tuvo problemas con Zimmer, cediendo 218,1 yardas de pase (17ª en NFL), 137,1 yardas de carrera (29ª), 355,2 yardas totales (28ª) y 27,5 puntos (31ª) por partido.
Parsons, who's entering the final season of his rookie deal, expressed that he has "trust" in the Cowboys to make the right head-coaching hire. Colorado Buffaloes head coach and former Cowboys star cornerback Deion Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles and former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and former Cowboys star tight end Jason Witten are among the reported candidates to replace McCarthy.
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