Mike McCarthy reveals what it takes to win Super Bowl, 'secret sauce' to good offensive system

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is diving into taking over play calling for the 2023 season. Though it’s on his mind all the time, McCarthy told reporters at the NFL’s annual team owners meetings this week that he already knows the “secret sauce” needed to make a good offense.

“Football is an easy game,” McCarthy said. “If you want your guys to play faster, give them less responsibility. And that’s where the secret sauce is in putting together a good offensive system.

“The ability to be multiple, to have the variations to protect your core concepts, to make sure the ball is getting distributed to your perimeter players, making sure you’re giving guys the opportunities that fit their skill sets. And with that, it makes it easier and cleaner for the quarterback.”

Although the Dallas Cowboys haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs yet under his watch, McCarthy is one of few active coaches with a Super Bowl ring. If he wins another with the Cowboys, he’ll be the first head coach to win the trophy with two different teams.

The former Packers coach is going all-in this season by taking the reins of the offense for the first time in Dallas. The team cut long-time staple Ezekiel Elliott but brought in Brandin Cooks from the Texans as an additional receiving option for Dak Prescott.

McCarthy on winning Super Bowl with second team: ‘It’s hard’

Even with numerous staff and roster changes, McCarthy knows making it back to the Super Bowl – and winning – comes down to multiple stars aligning.

“It’s hard,” McCarthy said. “When you win one, you definitely had a culture and a process and your program puts you in position to win that first one. I definitely had that in my last experience. But to create that in another place, it takes time. It’s difficult. I can see clearly why it’s never been done.”

With Elliott gone, the Cowboys will rely on Tony Pollard more than ever. Dallas could add a running back in one of the early rounds of the draft, but Pollard’s workload will increase regardless.

“You just look at where these touches go and do some of the touches go to receivers, tight ends, the new backs definitely absorb some of those opportunities, Tony’s will probably go up,” McCarthy said.

Dallas had one of the most balanced offenses in the league last season and that will likely continue despite the tweaks to the roster.