Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looks on during the first half against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

What Does the Mike McCarthy Experience Look Like?

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net
By Conor Cunningham | Last updated Jan 16, 2025 2:04 PM ET

The Mike McCarthy hype train (acceptance train?) has officially left the station in Chicago.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears flew McCarthy from Dallas to Wheeling, IL, in private accommodations for an in-person interview at Halas Hall. McCarthy is only one of two coaches to have an in-person interview with the Bears (Ron Rivera is the other).

At the very least, the Bears appear very interested in McCarthy. Whether or not he is the right candidate remains to be seen.

But what if the Bears hired McCarthy? What would the Mike McCarthy experience look like?

Ian Hartitz has a sample for us.

Mike McCarthy culture pic.twitter.com/gExrYW5uPw
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 16, 2025

Is McCarthy a Gallagher stan? Maybe an adjacent fan to The Smashing Pumpkins? No, he is probably just interested in the traditional Japanese sport of Suikawari. Regardless, the story at least sheds a little light on who McCarthy is as a coach.

The term "Leader of Men" has been tossed around like candy over the past month. If there were one common denominator that Bears brass was looking for in a candidate, it would be that.

I'll remind you of a simple algebraic property if you haven't been in math class in a few years.

Smashing Watermelons = Leader of Men.

Carry the two. Yep, it looks correct.

Is the story a bit corny? Yes. Is it reminiscent of the HITS principle? Maybe a little. Should this story move the needle for Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles? Probably not.

Regardless, we are in the information-gathering stage of the head coaching search, and this is, at the very least, gathered information.

Stay patient, and Bear Down.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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