Mike McCarthy has words for Packers, Aaron Rodgers
He's headed back to his former home.
The Football Feed
The Dallas Cowboys are certainly riding high right now, enjoying a strong 6-2 record through the first eight games of the 2022 NFL season. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers are anything but, having suffered four straight losses and putting their season in complete jeopardy.
This Sunday, McCarthy returns to Green Bay for the first time since he was let go by the Packers in December of 2018. And he's not got nothing but positive things to say about the fans and his time there.
“I really don’t have any expectations,” McCarthy said of this Sunday. “I think just like anything, it’s a fan base that loves their team. I’m hopeful that we have a lot of Cowboys fans there, but I was in a conversation last week about it. I worked in Green Bay in 1999 when Coach Holmgren came back to Lambeau Field for the first time, and I thought the crowd treated him with respect. It’s a special place that way, and I would be all for a very positive reception.”
And he's still close with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whom he revealed he still speaks with. But understandably, he wants to beat him.
“I’ve had great communication with Aaron lately,” McCarthy said, “and I’m looking forward to seeing him in person. My motivation is figuring out how to get to 7-2. Green Bay is a dangerous football team. I’m very impressed with their talent, particularly with the talent on their defense. There’s a lot of new faces that we haven’t competed against. Just really focusing on winning the game."
It's no surprise that McCarthy wasn't happy about being fired by the Packers, but was able to turn it into a positive situation all around.
“As far as making peace with it,” McCarthy said, “I think the year off was exactly what I needed. I think I had a chance to just reflect. It was not ideal to be right there in town, to be honest. But I think the fact that it gave me a chance to be with my family so much more just opens our eyes to the things that we all know that we miss as coaches in this industry. But I do understand it. Thirteen years is a very long time, but there’s a reason why it lasted 13 years, and why it went so long."
