McCarthy Turns The Page On A Devastating Chapter

Mike Silver of NFL Network has published a must-read piece on the Packers coach. 

The Green Bay Packers meltdown in Seattle has been covered by both national and local media as nauseam at this point. Seven months removed and we're still seeing questions about whether this team can overcome some kind of mythical hangover form that loss in the NFC Championship Game. 

What hasn't been in the conversation this summer is the personal tragedy Mike McCarthy dealt with almost immediately after that loss and how he has been dealing with it over the course of the offseason. 

Enter Mike Silver of NFL Network, who has just published an incredible piece on McCarthy's offseason, centered around the loss of his brother Joe. 

Silver does an amazing job of humanizing the journey McCarthy has taken since the clock struck zero in Seattle, from the immediate aftermath of the game, to getting the phone call about his brother, to his decision to give up the play calling duties, to preparing a team that is a favorite to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 50. 

Money quote: 

More than six months later, as he prepares to begin his 10th season as the coach of a team many have cast as a Super Bowl 50 favorite, McCarthy still remembers the helpless agony he felt during his drive home from Lambeau on that horrible Wednesday morning -- and still gets choked up when discussing his brother. (The coach's wife, Jessica, began to cry when the subject was broached during a recent phone interview, saying, "It's still really hard for us to talk about it.") 

McCarthy was heartened by the outpouring of support he received, both from the larger NFL community (the Steelers sent a delegation to Joe McCarthy's service that included coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert) and the Packers' organization. Bennett was one of numerous Packers employees to fly to Pittsburgh to attend the wake, and Rodgers -- while accepting his second MVP award at the NFL Honors event the night before Super Bowl XLIX -- nearly broke down when he spotted his coach in the crowd. 

The entire thing is well worth your time. There are great tidbits about McCarthy's desire to see his assistants get more recognition for the job they do, hopefully leading to head coaching opportunities, to a note on why McCarthy chose to grow his beard. 

Mostly, however, it is a deeply personal look at an NFL coach who has had to deal with the grind of an NFL offseason with an immensely heavy heart. 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

0 points
 

Comments (10)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Idiot Fan's picture

August 12, 2015 at 02:57 pm

Great article. I love what MM and TT have done to the culture at GB. When the players repeatedly talk about it being a family, good things are happening. I love rooting for this team.

0 points
0
0
porupack's picture

August 12, 2015 at 03:24 pm

Well said IdiotFan. MM has no equal in the NFL.

0 points
0
0
croatpackfan's picture

August 12, 2015 at 03:55 pm

Aaron, lately there are many good articles produced on this site. Congrats on good work...
Mike McCarthy - he is top NFL coach. I respect him a lot. Not only because of his football knowledge...

0 points
0
0
FITZCORE1252's picture

August 12, 2015 at 04:05 pm

Really good read, and it's one that just reinforces my pride in wearing that beautiful G everywhere I go.

0 points
0
0
4thand1's picture

August 12, 2015 at 06:21 pm

There is only one GB and this team connects more with its fans than any other. Its more than just football.

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

August 12, 2015 at 06:39 pm

Aaron - thanks for sharing the article on MM. He is a great coach and a great person. The Packers are fortunate to have him as their HC. I strongly recommend MM's biography, "Nobody's Underdog", to any Packer fan who has yet to read it in order to learn more about the fine person who is the Head Coach of our Packers. Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

August 12, 2015 at 07:06 pm

As a Packer fan of 34 who can remember almost every game since 1988, I have had 6 favorite teams: 1988, 1992, 1996, 2007, 2010 and 2014.

That Mike McCarthy has been the coach of 3 of my favorite teams in 30 years after a only decade on the job says not only that he is a successful coach who is coaching good players, but also something about his personality. His teams haven't always been perfect: in fact they've had glaring holes a few times. However, his teams have almost always fought hard.

We are a blessed bunch of fans that we get to watch not only an excellent team on Sunday's, but even more so that we can at least somewhat know what good people are populating 1265 Lombardi Avenue. Starting with the GM and Head Coach.

0 points
0
0
chugwater's picture

August 12, 2015 at 08:25 pm

Hats off to the Steelers leadership for supporting Mike during an emotional time. That's an equally classy organization. Quite impressive.

0 points
0
0
NorskPacker's picture

August 13, 2015 at 07:23 am

Great Article. Class act by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

0 points
0
0
WKUPackFan's picture

August 13, 2015 at 10:20 am

God bless you Coach McCarthy.

0 points
0
0