Michael Irvin Blasts Dallas Cowboys for Firing Mike McCarthy Without Hiring His Top Choice for Replacement
Former Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin has slammed the team for hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the new head coach after firing Mike McCarthy. Irvin had advocated for his former Cowboys teammate, Deion Sanders, to take over as head coach. He criticized the team’s failure to pursue more experienced coaching candidates and cited their recent poor playoff performance, having not reached the NFC Championship game in over 30 years.
Schottenheimer was praised by quarterback Dak Prescott, who noted that his continuity with the coaching staff could lead to faster adjustment. While the hiring of Schottenheimer is seen as a low-risk move, critics have questioned Jerry Jones’ decision not to make a bigger coaching hire, particularly considering the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world.
Despite Irvin’s skepticism, Schottenheimer’s history with quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Mark Sanchez has impressed him. Other recent underwhelming head coaching hires, such as Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles and Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions, have gone on to have success.
Jones himself defended the decision, saying, “I don’t need people in my comfort zone. This is as big a risk as you can take.” He took aim at himself for not going out of his comfort zone for a bigger-name coaching hire, despite being right within his grasp. The success or failure of the hire, ultimately, comes down to one goal: winning the Super Bowl.
Will this decision lead the Cowboys back to the top after a 30-year absence from the Super Bowl?