Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy thanked loyal fans with a full-page ad on Friday, just a few days after being fired from his position.
Mike McCarthy takes out a full-page ad to show his appreciation for the Green Bay faithful https://t.co/J7i5LXKwyz pic.twitter.com/c7IqwvzmCa
— JSOnline – Packers (@js_packers) December 7, 2018
“It’s hard to articulate the impact this job had on me and my family,” McCarthy wrote. “From the beginning, Green Bay has welcomed me with open arms. I met my beautiful wife Jessica here and raised our family of 5 children who will always call Green Bay home. Thank you for the immense outpouring of love our family received this week and throughout our time here. This speaks to the quality of folks in the State of Wisconsin. Coach Lombardi said it best. ‘Green Bay is all about Faith, Family and Football.’
“There is an unmistakable pride that runs through the bloodline of all Green Bay Packers, and that is why it’s not the bricks … but the Packers people and the pride they have for this organization that I will miss the most,” McCarthy said.
The Packers made offensive coordinator Joe Philbin the interim head coach and will be actively searching for a long-term coach after the 2018 NFL season has concluded.
While there certainly was good reason for McCarthy to lose his job — Green Bay has only four wins through the firsts 12 games of the season — the coach was beloved by his team. When he arrived back in Green Bay to say his goodbyes earlier this week, McCarthy received a standing ovation from the players.
During his tenure in Green Bay, McCarthy won a Super Bowl to add to the franchise’s legacy. He’ll likely land a new gig, sooner rather than later, and holds a special place in Packers lore.