Mike McCarthy Replacement: Aaron Rodgers Not Involved In Sacking, New Appointment

The Green Bay Packers sacked head coach Mike McCarthy on Sunday following their 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and many pointed the finger at quarterback Aaron Rodgers for being the cause after multiple reports of an alleged fall-out between the pair.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was appointed interim head coach for at least the next four games. The Packers have very little hope of making the postseason, so they will get a head start in planning for next season with a new head coach at the helm.

Rodgers is the talisman of the Packers and is contracted to the team for at least another four years. But despite his influence, the team’s president and CEO Mark Murphy revealed he would have no role in the next coach’s appointment. The Packers chief also cleared the air on the quarterback’s role in McCarthy’s dismissal.

"Obviously, he's free to provide input and talk to us," Murphy said of his quarterback, as quoted on ESPN. "But he's not going to be a part of the process. ... The other thing I would say, Aaron was no part at all in the decision to move on from Mike."

Philbin, who returned to the Packers in 2018, has previous experience as a head coach following his three-year stint with the Miami Dolphins between 2012 and 2015. And Murphy indicated he would be given a fair chance to stake a claim for a permanent role.

Rodgers revealed he was shocked like many others to learn of McCarthy’s sacking. The quarterback admitted it was tough to take the decision in stride after building a close working relationship for over a decade. The 2010 Super Bowl winner confirmed that he would now reach out to his former coach and was hoping that their relationship, which was said to be strained at times, was not the reason for McCarthy being let go by the Packers.

"I hope that's not the reason," Rodgers said. "I think him and I, like any relationship, we have our amazing times, we have our times where we butt heads. But the basis, like I said, was built on mutual respect and communication. We spent a lot of times here talking off the field, in my house, in his house. We spent time together and growing our friendship and we accomplished a lot together."

Packers CEO Murphy, on the other hand, believes the change was needed and that McCarthy’s “tenure” at the team had run its course. Moreover, the Packers hierarchy felt the loss against the Cardinals at home was tough to take, especially owing to the poor record of their opponents this season.

"I really felt that change was needed and kind of Mike's tenure had run its course," Murphy added. "I think we needed a new voice, and it happens in our league."