Upon news breaking of Mike McCarthy’s positive COVID test Monday, speculation began immediately regarding who would step in and assume the Cowboys’ interim head coaching duties when Dallas travels to New Orleans to face the Saints on Thursday night.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn seemed to be the logical choice, given his recent five-plus-year stint as the head man in Atlanta and Super Bowl appearance on his resume. But longtime Packers player and staffer Rob Davis, hired by McCarthy in January 2020, has the “assistant head coach” title next to his name, seemingly designating him as the No. 2, despite no tangible coaching experience.
Both were named by various sources in Monday morning news reports as the likely candidate to fill in for McCarthy. Now McCarthy himself has spoken, confirming to USA Today Sports that Quinn will call the shots in Week 13, as per Jori Epstein.
Quinn, who normally coaches the defense from the booth, will be on the sideline Thursday night and retain his defensive coordinator role during the game.
“I think, understandably, with Dan’s experience, the challenge flag, the timeouts, the referees’ meeting, there’s just a lot of little things that go into it,” McCarthy told reporters via conference call Monday afternoon. “Number one, he’s done it before, so that’s obviously part of the thinking, part of the reason going through the change. He’s called a defense two years as the head coach. With that, I was trying to keep it as tight as I possibly can. Anytime you have one change, you don’t want to make 6 adjustments.”
Davis will handle administrative duties in McCarthy’s absence.
Before the news of his COVID test, McCarthy shared with Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan that he had already relocated temporarily as an extra precaution following the holidays; the entire league has ramped up virus protocols at all team facilities.
“Our players have done an excellent job taking the extra step,” McCarthy told Shan and RJ early Monday morning. “Personally, I’ve moved into a hotel the last couple days. Our climate here is we’re doing the things necessary to give us the best chance each and every week.”
The entire coaching staff will undergo something of a shuffle for the time being. Offensive line coach Joe Philbin and assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko are out with COVID; tights end coach Lunda Wells has stepped in there. Offensive quality control coach Chase Haslett takes over the tight end group. Team consultant Ben McAdoo, a former coach, will take on extra responsibilities, too.
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and special teams coordinator John Fassel will continue leading their respective units.
McCarthy, who confirmed to USA Today that he is vaccinated, says he plans to be involved in the Cowboys’ game plan by leading virtual meetings this week, up until and including Thursday.
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