Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is back with a lesson for all: Listen to your body
Just as quarterback Dak Prescott predicted, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was not happy about being diagnosed with acute appendicitis and being rushed to emergence surgery Wednesday, four days before a crucial showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East.
McCarthy appreciates the care and concern. He is thankful for the support of the medical people that conducted the successful appendectomy as seamless as possible, allowing him to get back in the office on Friday.
He is sore, but he plans to be on the field coaching and calling plays on Sunday.
“I was extremely frustrated when when the scan came back,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s only natural. But you know, also, I’ve seen a lot worse. There’s there’s never a good time for, for a medical situation.”
McCarthy acknowledged, however, that the situation was a lesson for all to listen to your body.
It could have been a lot worse. It also could have been handled sooner.
“I felt like I had a stomach virus for quite some time,” he said during a media conference call with Cowboys reporters on Friday. “And, you know, based on where the pain was, you know, I never thought it would be my appendix because it wasn’t in my right side. So, it had a rough night, Monday and Tuesday night. So when they came in early, as normal time Wednesday. We ran over to the hospital thinking maybe just get a scan just to make sure everything was fine. And then that’s when they revealed in the appendix that I had to go go to surgery.”
It was athletic trainer Jim Maurer who walked McCarthy over to the hospital to get situation checked.
McCarthy thought it was just physical wear and tear associated with playing three games in 12 days and having kids in the house for the holidays.
“In this business, you’re around medical people all the time,” McCarthy said. “And I feel like you have a pretty good understanding of what signs listen to. I have children. They go to school. We’ve had individuals that have been sick in the home. I think a lot of coaches this time of year are a little rundown.
“I thought it was a stomach virus. But I definitely let it go too long. And I do think it’s clearly an example that you, you should have it checked out earlier than later. I think we can we can all focus more on that and it’s definitely something that I personally get to learn from”
McCarthy was released from the hospital on Thursday and got back into the game plan that evening with Prescott and the rest of the coaches.
“Once I got released from the hospital, I’ve been totally engaged in the game plan,” McCarthy said. “I’m focused on doing my part on Sunday night. I need to do a hell of a job.”
Albeit a little sore, he expects to be business as usual on Sunday with him coaching and calling plays from the sideline — as long he continues to be a patient.
“I was excited about getting back,” McCarthy said. “But one of the things we talked about with the surgeon was to make sure that I do my part as far as the amount of sleep in the night before. So far I’m one for one, I’ve been a good patient for one day. So two for two tomorrow. I just got I just got to be smart here, these next couple days.”
McCarthy was discharged from the hospital at 11 a.m. Thursday and worked until 10 p.m. that night.
He said he appreciated the assistant coaches and players who kept things going and took care of business while he was away, keeping the focus on the Eagles so they can best prepared achieve their goals on Sunday.
He didn’t want to be a distraction and he plans to do his part and not let them down.
“I think it’s clearly why I felt like it was so important for me to get back in here,” McCarthy said. “If anybody knows me, or has ever worked with me, I’m the last guy that wants to take any attention away from the players. It’s a players game. I’ve built my program around that premise. Everything that touches the locker room was the most important.
“So that’s why it was imperative for me to get back in here and get going and just make sure the normalcy was was was totally back in place. And I do give the players a ton of credit and the coaches for for keeping, just keeping it rolling on Wednesday and Thursday. We’ll be ready to go.”
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 2:37 PM.
