Mike McCarthy’s return to Green Bay as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys ended in a reminder of why the Packers fired him in the first place.
Mike McCarthy spent 13 seasons as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He won a Super Bowl and NFL Coach of the Year Award there.
There were good times to be sure, but there were also questions about his ability to lead a contender, especially without the benefit of Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. After missing the playoffs in 2017 and a 4-7-1 start in 2018, the Packers fired McCarthy.
He landed on his feet in Dallas where he’s still seeking his first playoff victory. It wasn’t a postseason game on Sunday but the matchup with McCarthy’s former team in Green Bay had bigger-than-normal vibes.
So when McCarthy’s mishaps contributed to the Cowboys‘ 31-28 loss in overtime, Packers fans weren’t shy about kicking him when he was down.
Packers fans relished beating Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys
The #Packers snap a 5-game losing streak. In Mike McCarthy's homecoming, Green Bay got a win they needed.
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) November 14, 2022
GAME OVER. CONGRATS, MIKE MCCARTHY.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 14, 2022
Mike McCarthy just automatically does dumb shit when he gets back to Lambeau Field. 😭😭😭
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) November 14, 2022
Go Pack Go!!! #Packers
It took until 2022 but mike McCarthy finally did something to help Aaron Rodgers win a football game.
— Kev (@klew24) November 14, 2022
For the first time in years, Mike McCarthy's coaching helped the Packers win a game.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) November 14, 2022
Shoulda known Aaron Rodgers had one more “fuck you” to Mike McCarthy left in him
— Emma Vigeland - @emmavigeland.bsky.social (@EmmaVigeland) November 14, 2022
normally I don't support the packers in any way but there is something beautiful about aaron rodgers owning mike mccarthy
— JOE HARRIS SZN (@fighthaskins) November 14, 2022
Mike McCarthy losing in Lambeau pic.twitter.com/26HlwcaWmb
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 14, 2022
Who says Mike McCarthy can't turn around a Packers team
— Moneybagg Yo(hannes) 🇪🇷 (@AronYohannes) November 14, 2022
That was a beautiful tribute from Mike McCarthy to his own miscues that ultimately led him to not coaching the Packers anymore. Touching stuff.
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) November 14, 2022
For a while there it looked like McCarthy would beat his former team easily. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys led by two touchdowns. The Packers scored the final 17 points of the game to win.
Cowboys fans weren’t pleased with their head coach, who opted to go for fourth down from the Packers 35-yard line in overtime rather than kicking a field goal to put pressure on the other side to score more. When Dallas failed to convert, Rodgers set up a simple field goal for the win.
I'LL BET PACKER FANS ARE ECSTATIC MIKE MCCARTHY IS OUR COACH INSTEAD OF THEIRS.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 14, 2022
This is the 1st game in @dallascowboys history when they had at least a 14 point lead in the 4th quarter and lost. It’s also the reason why Mike McCarthy is no longer the HC in Green Bay
— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 14, 2022
if Mike McCarthy is my HC next week, i’m going to LOSE MY MIND!
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) November 14, 2022
KICK THE DAMN FG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brett Maher has been automatic for most of the season.
— Sandy Ravage (@YellowSnwman) November 14, 2022
You’re a dumb ass Mike McCarthy
I hate you Mike McCarthy pic.twitter.com/95N4aEFEQm
— taco joe | BLM (@tacojoe_) November 14, 2022
Mike McCarthy should not allowed on the plane home. What an incredibly stupid head coach he is. His teams are incredibly undisciplined and make stupid mistakes.
— John Moore (The Recliner Nerd) (@reclinernerd) November 14, 2022
McCarthy can’t even blame the analytics boogeyman for his boneheaded decision!@Chris_Broussard https://t.co/IVGdx7Nvc4
— nick wright (@getnickwright) November 14, 2022
Green Bay had lost six games in a row coming into this week. Rodgers picked the perfect time to raise his game, hitting 14-of-20 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Dak Prescott threw two interceptions to counterbalance his three touchdown passes.