Packers president, GM speak after firing of longtime head coach Mike McCarthy
GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Packers President Mark Murphy and General Manager Brian Gutekunst are speaking Monday about the firing of longtime head coach Mike McCarthy.
It's Murphy's first comments since the quick and decisive action was taken after Sunday's loss at Lambeau.
Mark Murphy calls McCarthy a great coach and a great man (which made the decision harder) but that they needed a new voice. Cites the Andy Reid move from the Eagles as one with a great and successful coach that just needed a change pic.twitter.com/lzget2XRoe
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
“Evaluating the season, I thought change was needed...we needed a new voice.” -Packers President Mark Murphy pic.twitter.com/eiGNYJ12HV
— Cristina Tuso CBS 58 (@CristinaTuso) December 3, 2018
Murphy says making the move early will help them get a head start in the coaching search and it helps McCarthy get a job too pic.twitter.com/h8YOAa4SoK
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
“I have great respect for Joe (Philbin)....he’s been a part of some of our very best teams here...another advantage of making a season now is it gives us the opportunity to see Joe as a head coach for 4 games.”
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
Mark Murphy makes it sound like Philbin will be a full time candidate pic.twitter.com/uKJ3RPCcKh
“We had expectations this year. They weren’t met. I don’t think we’ve played well all season.”
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
-Brian Gutekunst pic.twitter.com/4BlgwZgw2Y
Mark Murphy says he will be making the hire for the #Packers next head coach but Brian Gutekunst will be involved in the process.
— Cristina Tuso CBS 58 (@CristinaTuso) December 3, 2018
Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst are making it very clear they think they will agree on the new hire. Both are downplaying the “fracture” between Rodgers and McCarthy pic.twitter.com/Ip3wGTXgv4
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
Murphy says Aaron Rodgers will NOT be directly involved in hiring the new coach and he was NOT a part of the decision to move on from McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/AtVueFfUXI
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
Murphy confirms Philbin will be a candidate
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
“I’m very optimistic we can make a big change quickly...expectations are high here.”
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
Murphy notes that New Orleans had a quick turnaround thanks in large part to one great draft and adds that Gutekunst’s first draft was very promising pic.twitter.com/7rJJxQ2GqE
“All of my adult life I’ve been involved in football. I’ve seen it as a player, 17 years as an athletic director....I think this gives the packers the best chance at success and that’s why I’m going to do it.”
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
Murphy on why he’s making the ultimate decision pic.twitter.com/oA6Ssr8khP
“I don’t want to get into details but he was very professional.” It was a “fairly short conversation” when Murphy told McCarthy
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) December 3, 2018
To watch the press conference with Murphy and Gutekunst, please click here. To watch Philbin's press conference, please click here.