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.
Mike McCarthy is the betting favorite to be the next HC of the New York Giants 😳
— br_betting (@br_betting) November 11, 2025
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.
This Giants Coaching Rumor Could Be a Hidden Win for the Cowboys
The Cowboys Know McCarthy Better Than Anyone
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.
McCarthy’s Familiar Patterns Could Limit the Giants
The odds board lists McCarthy at +700, followed by Klint Kubiak (+800), Steve Spagnuolo (+900), and Lou Anarumo (+950).
This Giants Coaching Rumor Could Be a Hidden Win for the Cowboys
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.
Stability vs. Another Rebuild
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.
Pressure Could Break McCarthy Before It Builds the Giants
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 another short-lived coaching cycle — keeping one of Dallas’ top rivals distracted while the Cowboys focus on internal growth.
The NFC East Runs Through Philadelphia — but McCarthy’s Hire Keeps Dallas in the Hunt
Right now, the Eagles set the pace in the NFC East. Their combination of elite quarterback play, dominant line play, and organizational stability makes them the measuring stick everyone else is chasing.
But if Mike McCarthy takes over in New York, it doesn’t tilt the balance of power — it preserves it.
The Giants would still be in transition, the Commanders are rebuilding, and the Cowboys remain the most established challenger to Philadelphia.
Dallas doesn’t need to overhaul its roster to compete; it needs consistency and sharper in-game execution.
McCarthy joining the Giants keeps the division’s hierarchy intact, giving the Cowboys time to fix defensive discipline and strengthen offensive identity while New York adjusts to another new system.
Big Apple Shakeup
If Mike McCarthy becomes the next head coach of the New York Giants, it’ll be a headline grabber — but not a threat to Dallas.
The Cowboys know his tendencies, his system, and his pacing. Facing him twice a year won’t intimidate them; it’ll remind them of what they’ve already moved past.
As the NFC East continues to revolve around Philadelphia, the Cowboys’ best path forward is steady improvement and internal consistency — not panic over an old playbook resurfacing in blue and white.
McCarthy’s potential move might shake up New York, but it quietly keeps the balance of power exactly where it is.
Cody Warren is an American sports writer for InsideTheStar.com, a prominent website focusing on the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to his writing duties, Cody is also a devoted husband, father, and Law Enforcement Officer with close to two decades of experience in various assignments. Beginning his writing journey at InsideTheStar.com as a Junior Writer, Cody has pursued his passion for sports journalism and is now able to cover his beloved team, America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys.