Pleasantly surprised Troy Aikman praises Dallas Cowboys for hiring Mike McCarthy
Hall of Fame quarterback and FOX analyst Troy Aikman heaped praised on the Dallas Cowboys for hiring Mike McCarthy as the team’s ninth coach in franchise history.
“I do think the guy that they hired is outstanding,” McCarthy said on KTCK/1310 “The Ticket.” “I think he’ll come in and do a great job.”
Aikman was surprised that McCarthy was on Jerry Jones’ radar, presumably because McCarthy will employ a more comprehensive, control-freak style of head coach that many believe will clash with Jones’ role as owner and general manager.
“I didn’t anticipate that he’d be of interest to the Cowboys,” he said. “Of the guys who are available and even the guys who aren’t available, I think Mike McCarthy would certainly be on that short list. I think it was an outstanding hire. He’ll have a different approach and I think for some people that will be really refreshing.”
Aikman feels McCarthy wasn’t shown enough respect after he was fired by the Green Bay Packers after the 12 game and a 4-7-1 record in 2018. McCarthy led Green Bay to eight winning seasons in 12 full seasons as head coach, including a Super Bowl title after the 2010 season at AT&T Stadium.
“I have great respect for Mike McCarthy and what he’s been able to accomplish. I thought the way it ended in Green Bay, I think he deserved better after all those years of success I don’t think he deserved to be fired before the season ended,” he said.
Aikman said he had breakfast with McCarthy before calling a Thursday night game in Green Bay this season
“I think he’s extremely motivated. When a guy like him who has had the success that he’s had, and a lot of postseason success … When you stand in front of the room and as soon as you start speaking people know, they know what his resume is, they know what he accomplished,” he said. “A lot of the guys in that room have played against the Packers under Mike McCarthy. They know how prepared those teams were. That’s a good thing.”
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 9:12 AM.
