The Green Bay Packers are set to announce their new head coach. A source close to the situation indicates that San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy will be named coach of the Packers as soon as contract negotiations are formally completed. That is expected to happen as early as Thursday.
McCarthy's agent, Gary O'Hagan told the 'Milwaukee Journal Sentinel' that an agreement was close. 'We're working on it,' O'Hagan said.
McCarthy will replace Mike Sherman who was fired after this year's injury plagued 4-12 season. Prior to 2005, Sherman had five consecutive winning seasons and had taken the Pack to the playoffs four straight times.
This is not the first job McCarthy held with the Packers. In 1999, he served as Green Bay's quarterback's coach under Ray Rhodes. Green Bay finished that season 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Rhodes was let go after just one season at the helm.
Prior to landing the offensive coordinator position in San Francisco in 2005, McCarthy spent five years in the same position with the New Orleans Saints.
Packers General Manager Ted Thompson was sufficiently impressed with McCarthy that he reportedly called defensive coordinator Jim Bates and told him that he would not be hired as coach. Bates had a strong interview earlier in the week.
Because McCarthy is a proponent of the west coast offense, veteran quarterback Brett Favre would not have to learn a new system if McCarthy takes over as head coach. According to published reports, Favre had indicated he would not return to the Packers in 2006 if he had to learn a new offensive system. He has been playing in the same system since joining the Packers in 1992.
