Packers fire Mike McCarthy after stunning loss to Cardinals

The Green Bay Packers made the drastic move many were growing to expect this season.

Coach Mike McCarthy was fired by the franchise on Sunday night after a 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, ending his nearly 13-year tenure that included a Super Bowl victory.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will take over as interim coach of the 4-7-1 Packers.

“The 2018 season has not lived up to the expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers. As a result, I made the difficult decision to relieve Mike McCarthy of his role as head coach, effective immediately,” Packers president and CEO Mike Murphy said. “Mike has been a terrific head coach and leader of the Packers for 13 seasons, during which time we experienced a great deal of success on and off the field.

“We want to thank Mike, his wife, Jessica, and the rest of the McCarthy family for all that they have done for the Packers and the Green Bay and Wisconsin communities. We will immediately begin the process of selecting the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers.”

McCarthy was 125-77-2 in his career. In 2010, he led the Packers to a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

Green Bay made it to the postseason in nine years under McCarthy. But he acknowledged after Sunday’s loss that he was running out of answers about this year’s disappointing team.

“I mean, I’ve never been in this spot,” McCarthy said. “I’m not going to act like I know what the hell I’m going to do tomorrow when they get in here. So, we’re going to do what we always do, we’re going to represent the Packers the right way, I know that. Other than that, we’ll focus on what’s in front of us.”

McCarthy becomes the second NFL coach to be fired this year after the Cleveland Browns dismissed Hue Jackson on Oct. 29.