Inside The Star
A familiar face — and a familiar advantage.
The New York Giants are once again searching for a head coach after moving on from Brian Daboll.
To the surprise of many, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has emerged as the betting favorite (+700) to take over in New York, according to Bleacher Report Betting.
https://twitter.com/br_betting/status/1988300232808132708?s=61
For the Cowboys, this news isn’t cause for concern — it’s opportunity.
McCarthy taking the Giants job could actually benefit Dallas, keeping one divisional rival in transition while the Cowboys focus on steady improvement under Brian Schottenheimer.
If the Giants make this move, they’ll be hiring a coach the Cowboys’ organization knows extremely well.
While current defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus never worked directly with McCarthy, much of Dallas’ offensive and scouting personnel spent five full seasons inside his system.
They’ve studied how he scripts drives, when he goes conservative, and how his clock management unfolds under pressure.
That internal familiarity gives Dallas a strategic edge. The Cowboys don’t have to guess how a McCarthy-led offense operates — they practiced against it every day from 2020 to 2024.
Even if Eberflus’ defense has struggled to adjust quickly to creative play-callers, facing a predictable, well-scouted system could make those matchups far more manageable.
The odds board lists McCarthy at +700, followed by Klint Kubiak (+800), Steve Spagnuolo (+900), and Lou Anarumo (+950).
McCarthy’s résumé includes a Super Bowl and years of playoff appearances, but his offensive rhythm has long been questioned for its lack of adaptability.
Those tendencies — run-heavy sequences, predictable screens, and conservative red-zone calls — frustrated Cowboys fans for years.
If he carries that same approach to New York, the Giants’ offense could struggle to match the pace and creativity of modern NFC contenders.
That reality benefits Dallas. Facing a team built around a system they already know gives the Cowboys more prep clarity and fewer surprises.
Dallas would enter 2026 with offensive continuity under Brian Schottenheimer and a defense with a year of Eberflus’s defensive philosophy.
The Giants, on the other hand, would be starting over — again — under McCarthy’s leadership.
That kind of transition takes time.
While New York adjusts to a new staff, Dallas can focus on cleaning up execution and improving its defensive communication.
Every year the Giants spend re-learning a system is another season the Cowboys can build rhythm and continuity without major change.
Coaching in New York magnifies every mistake — and for a former Cowboys coach, that spotlight is even brighter.
McCarthy would face constant comparisons to his Dallas tenure, and a slow start could ignite the same questions that ended his run in Arlington.
That kind of scrutiny rarely allows long-term development.
If early losses pile up, fan pressure and media noise could push the Giants into...
