Packers CEO: Rodgers didn't impact McCarthy firing, won't influence hiring
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have as much involvement in the hiring of a new head coach as he did in the firing of Mike McCarthy: none.
"Aaron was no part at all of the decision to move on," chief executive officer Mark Murphy told reporters Monday, according to Jason Wilde of Madison.com.
The Packers dismissed McCarthy on Sunday following a jarring loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals. Green Bay went 4-7-1 under McCarthy this season and is likely to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
Rumors persisted throughout the year that the franchise quarterback was at odds with his head coach and offensive play-caller. Anecdotes from several former Packers including ex-offensive lineman Jeff Saturday lent credence to those notions:
Jeff Saturday, on ESPN, on his last year in GB with Aaron Rodgers: "...when you'd be in the huddle, and Mike McCarthy would make the play call, you could see Aaron's frustration. Whether it be the eye roll..."
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) December 3, 2018
Said a lot of the players questioned the play calls.
Murphy noted Rodgers will be "free to add input" as the Packers search for a new head coach but he won't significantly influence the hiring process, Wilde added.
"My door's open," Murphy said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "(General manager) Brian's (Gutekunst) door is open. We have great relationships with Aaron, but he is not going to be making the decision on our next head coach. We'd welcome his input."
McCarthy led the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 2010 and was in his 13th season with the club. His offense seemed to grow stale in his final years in Green Bay, leaving fans - and perhaps Rodgers - to clamor for more creativity.
Rodgers signed a 4-year, $134-million extension with the Packers in August.
Green Bay will finish the season with Joe Philbin as its interim head coach.