Months after parting ways with the Dallas Cowboys, Mike McCarthy is finding peace in something he hasn’t had since the 1980s — a football season away from the sidelines. In his first formal interview since the split, the Super Bowl-winning coach sat down with D Magazine to discuss life after the Cowboys, his continued passion for the game, and what comes next.

While McCarthy is technically “off the clock,” his routine hasn’t changed much. He still wakes up at 5:30 a.m., gets in a workout, watches game tape, talks to fellow coaches and friends, and fills his afternoons picking up his youngest daughter, Izzy, from school.

“I go to bed tired every night,’’ McCarthy said. “I try to keep a similar regimen to what I always lived as a coach, but the time sequences are now filled with family and friends.’’

McCarthy remains based in Dallas, largely due to his daughter’s involvement with a national champion youth volleyball team. However, the family still splits time in Wisconsin, where McCarthy built his legacy with the Green Bay Packers.

Though the 2025 NFL season will go on without him, McCarthy made it clear he’s not done with football. “I’m preparing to coach again in 2026,” he said, leaving little doubt that he’s keeping his name in the coaching carousel discussion.

That includes keeping a close eye on the NFL each weekend — especially games featuring his former teams. This Sunday night, the Cowboys face the Packers in a primetime matchup at AT&T Stadium, a game McCarthy will be watching with keen interest.

“As a coach, you’re always analyzing it,’’ he said. “That’s how we’re wired for viewing football. I’ll be watching individuals.”

Though McCarthy declined to predict a winner, he made it clear where his heart lies. “There are people you root for in this business. That’s one thing about the Cowboys. I spent five years with those men. I have a lot of love for the players and coaches still there. I just believe the Cowboys are going to continue to get better.”

As coaching opportunities begin to open up later this season and into the offseason, McCarthy is expected to be a top candidate. For now, he’s enjoying the rare luxury of watching — not coaching — on Sundays.