The Green Bay Packers have signed Head Coach Mike McCarthy to a new, five-year contract that runs through the 2012 season. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, made the announcement Tuesday.
"I thank the Green Bay Packers, especially Ted Thompson and Mark Murphy, for this commitment and the confidence they have shown in me," McCarthy said.
"We have accomplished some of our goals over the past two seasons, but there remains much left to be done. I am excited by the opportunity to meet those challenges and someday return another Lombardi Trophy home to Green Bay."
McCarthy, the franchise's 14th Head Coach, recently completed one of the most successful seasons in club history. The 2007 Green Bay Packers tied a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins on their way to securing the NFC North Division championship and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
McCarthy became the first Packers coach since Vince Lombardi to take his team to a championship game in his second season, guiding the league's youngest club to an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. For his efforts, he was honored by the NFL Alumni and Motorola as the 2007 NFL Coach of the Year.
"We are pleased to be able to make this announcement," Thompson said. "Mike brings tremendous passion, work ethic and structure to his position. These are the traits we saw in him when he was hired and we're very happy for the success we have had under his guidance.
"Mike and I have a very good working relationship and we look forward to continuing to work for such a special organization with such great fans."
This past year marked McCarthy's 15th NFL season, his second as Head Coach of the Packers. Named to his current position on Jan. 12, 2006, McCarthy led the Packers to an 8-8 record in his first season. The team ended the season with a four-game winning streak and was in the NFC playoff hunt until the league's final weekend.
A Pittsburgh native, the 44-year-old McCarthy spent six seasons as an offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints (2000-04) and San Francisco 49ers (2005). He served as quarterbacks coach for the Packers in 1999 after six seasons (1993-98) on staff with the Kansas City Chiefs.
