Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy Diagnosed With Acute Appendicitis

The Dallas Cowboys' exceptional 2023 season has taken a sudden and concerning turn. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, head coach Mike McCarthy will undergo surgery Wednesday afternoon after being diagnosed with "acute appendicitis."

Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy experienced abdominal pain this morning that warranted further evaluation and resulted in a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. He is currently slated for surgery this afternoon, expected to be released later today, and anticipates coaching on…
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 6, 2023

McCarthy was suffering from abdominal pain Wednesday morning. He was quickly diagnosed and scheduled for surgery. The Cowboys will rely on their various coordinators and assistants to run practice until McCarthy is fit to return. He is not expected to miss Week 14.

McCarthy has sneakily established a staggering resume as one of the best offensive minds in the NFL. His Cowboys are on their way to yet another top-scoring offence, which would be their second in three years, and that's despite the departure of longtime offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who took a job with the Los Angeles Chargers this past offseason.

Beyond that, McCarthy's 10 top-five scoring offences as an offensive coordinator or head coach trail only Bill Belichick's 11 for the most among active coaches. Perhaps most remarkably, McCarthy has accomplished that feat with four different leading passers (Aaron Brooks, Bret Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott). Belichick has never coached a top-five scoring offense without quarterback Tom Brady; his Patriots even rank dead last in scoring this season through 13 weeks with 12.3 points per game.

It's good news that McCarthy's surgery isn't expected to prevent him from coaching in Week 14, but it's still an unwanted distraction ahead of a crucial game. The Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, and if they're to have any hope of wrestling away the NFC East and the NFC's top seed, they'll need a win. Hopefully, the Cowboys can still bring their A-game even with McCarthy ailing.