McCarthy is the third high-profile candidate to pull out of the Saints' search, joining Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Mike McCarthy, the former Cowboys coach who was in the running for the Saints job, is now not planning to coach this year and will focus on the 2026 hiring cycle instead, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday night.

Kliff Kingsbury will remain the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator despite interest from the New Orleans Saints and other teams during this head-coaching cycle, according to multiple reports. Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy also will not be the Saints’ new head coach this season, according to multiple reports.

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy does not plan to coach this year. The New Orleans Saints are the only team still looking to hire a head coach, with six other franchises previously filling their vacancies.

Mike McCarthy has decided against coaching in 2025, removing himself as a candidate to fill the NFL’s last remaining head coaching vacancy with the New Orleans Saints

Does anyone want to coach the New Orleans Saints? The former Dallas Cowboys coach decided he will focus on the 2026 hiring cycle, according a report from the NFL Network.

It looks like the former Cowboys coach will be following in the footsteps of previous high-profile sideline bosses, clearing the way for one of his protege.

With Kliff Kingsbury returning to the Washington Commanders and Mike McCarthy reportedly pulling his name out of contention for the New Orleans

It was always about control. Always has been, always will be, for as long as Jerry Jones has a breath in his body and a pulse in his trigger finger. The Dallas

If the Cowboys played things differently, they could have had their all-star coaching staff. | From @ReidDHanson

McCarthy is widely seen as a better head-coaching candidate than Schottenheimer, who had never served as a head coach before this month.