Prior to the 2013 season, Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett gave up play-calling duties after six seasons in that role, dating back to when he came to Dallas as the offensive coordinator under then-head coach Wade Phillips.
The move, which made Garrett a “walk-around coach,” wasn’t an immediate success. With Bill Callahan calling plays and Garrett walking around, Dallas finished the 2013 season 8-8 and missed the playoffs. But in 2014, with Scott Linehan taking over the play-calling and Garrett still working on the big picture, Dallas broke through with a 12-4 record and their first NFC East Championship since 2009.
Which is to say, it looks like the decision to relieve Garrett of play-calling duties was a positive one. Now, the Green Bay Packers--the team that eliminated the Cowboys in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this year--are following suit.
Like Garrett did two years ago, Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy will give up play-calling duties in 2015.
“I have a lot more to offer, the assistants, the staff,” McCarthy said of the change, per the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “There's a vision you give to your team and will be more directly involved in defense schemes. And I will spend a lot of time with special teams.”
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