It’s been rumored for weeks, but the New Orleans Saints are finally scheduling a sit-down interview with former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy previously met with the Chicago Bears after his contract with Dallas expired last week. Because he’s not under contract with another team, he’s free to meet in person without setting up an initial virtual interview.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, that’s going to happen later this week, with exact timing depending on the weather. A rare winter snowstorm is headed for Louisiana and the Gulf South which may limit travel in some areas. The Saints currently plan on interviewing New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka on Tuesday as well as defensive coordinators Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins) and Aaron Glenn (Detroit Lions) on Wednesday.
These interviews are capped at three hours by NFL rules, so while McCarthy could fit in on Wednesday his meeting may be scheduled later in the week. And inclement weather conditions could force the Saints to reschedule someone here or there.
McCarthy is a bit of a controversial candidate. Despite ranking top-10 among active coaches in win percentage, he’s been cast as a retread with some fans questioning whether he could rebuild the Saints. His history with the organization makes him an obviously appealing candidate to them — he was their offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004, having worked with Mickey Loomis and been hired by Randy Mueller, who is consulting on the ongoing search. But will they cut a deal? Let’s see.