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The Carolina Panthers have already begun the search for the coach to replace Ron Rivera. The team interviewed former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy following their Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Packers fired McCarthy in December 2018 after 13 seasons as their head coach. The past two months, we’ve seen numerous reports about McCarthy preparing for his next job. Jason La Canfora reported on McCarthy preparing for his next job by studying film and working with a variety of assistant coaches.
In recent weeks, McCarthy has gotten more press. NFL reporter Peter King sat down with him to discuss his preparations. Earlier that week, Tom Pelissero posted video showing some of the work McCarthy has been doing.
"I'm not trying to just go win one, I'm trying to win them all."
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 9, 2019
If you have any question about what returning to an NFL sideline in 2020 means to former #Packers coach Mike McCarthy or the work he's put in to be ready, check out this glimpse at my @nflnetwork feature. pic.twitter.com/sbaoAElIEE
The Panthers fired Ron Rivera in early December and have Perry Fewell serving in an interim basis. There is some thought that Cam Newton is on his way out the door following this season, but one has to wonder what an offensive-minded coach like McCarthy might think of Newton.
The job search is only just beginning. Black Monday will result in a host of additional openings, so even if the Panthers want to hire McCarthy, he might prefer to wait and see what other opportunities arise.