Mike McCarthy and Marvin Lewis both plan to meet with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Which one would be a better fit for the head coaching position?
The Dallas Cowboys still haven’t officially parted ways with Head Coach Jason Garrett, but on Saturday, they are starting their search for his replacement. Former Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach Mike McCarthy and former Cincinnati Bengals’ Head Coach Marvin Lewis both plan to interview for the job on Saturday.
Mike McCarthy was the Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach from 2006 to 2018. During his 13-year tenure, he accumulated an impressive overall record of 125-77-2 and won Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was pushed out of Green Bay midway through the 2018 season and took the 2019 season off. He fully intends to return to coaching in 2020 and has already interviewed with the Carolina Panthers, the New York Giants, and the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching positions.
Marvin Lewis was the Cincinnati Bengals’ Head Coach from 2003 to 2018. He finished his tenure with an overall record of 131-122-3, and more notably, had a playoff record of 0-7. Lewis mutually parted ways with Cincinnati after the 2018 season and was a special advisor to Arizona State University this past year.
When you compare the two coaches, McCarthy has one advantage that might overshadow anything else: his playoff record. Jason Garrett was a decent head coach for Dallas, but could never bring them success in the playoffs. The same is true of Lewis with Cincinnati. He took the Bengals to playoffs seven times in his 16-year tenure and lost each time. He has never won a playoff game, while McCarthy has won a Super Bowl and reached the NFC Championship four times. McCarthy led the Packers to the playoffs 9 of his 13 seasons and made it to at least the Divisional Round seven times.
One benefit that Lewis does have: he knows how to deal with difficult ownership. Many people think that Jerry Jones could scare away the best talent available at the head coaching position. He is a difficult owner, the only owner to give his own press conferences each week. Lewis has experience working with difficult ownership in Cincinnati, but he still managed to take the team to the playoffs seven times.
Dallas has the talent to be a successful team. They need someone who can develop that talent and take them to the next level. McCarthy has shown he can be successful on the next level. But Lewis has shown he is prepared to deal with the leadership in Dallas, which could hinder any future head coach from finding success.
At this early stage, it seems to make the most sense that McCarthy edges out Lewis as the better option in Dallas. But there will be other candidates to consider as well.
One thing is clear: the search for Garrett’s replacement in Dallas has officially begun.