Packers allow fired McCarthy to address players

Mike McCarthy was back in front of the Green Bay Packers' players on Wednesday.

Three days after being fired, McCarthy was given the opportunity to address his now former players after making a request to do so.

"He wanted an opportunity to speak with the team. I was 100 percent, fully supportive of, and he did a fantastic job talking to the team," interim coach Joe Philbin told reporters on Thursday. "Not just about football and winning football games, but his passion. His passion for the game, his love for the players was clearly evident.

"I'm sure it was emotional for him and everybody in the room. It was awesome. I thought he did a great job."

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McCarthy paid a visit to team headquarters on Tuesday to make the request and chief executive officer Mark Murphy and others in upper management agreed to it.

Murphy felt it was a good idea as McCarthy didn't have a chance to address the team after being fired hours after Sunday's 20-17 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

"He spoke to the team yesterday and that was good," Murphy told WTMJ radio on Thursday. "I think Mike wanted some closure with the players and some of the other coaches to be able to thank them and say goodbye to them as well."

Philbin said he has spoken with McCarthy multiple times since Sunday's firing. He said allowing the former coach back in the building -- which is not the norm in NFL circles -- is indicative of how the Packers do business.

"That's the Green Bay Packer way, right?" Philbin said. "This is a first-class organization all the way around. I think it's been that way for 100 seasons, I would guess. I'm not that old, but I'm guessing it's been like that for a long time. We do things the right way around here."

Related: See the coach's relationship with Aaron Rodgers:

McCarthy, who turned 55 last month, was in his 13th season at the helm in Green Bay. He finishes with a 125-77-2 regular-season record while going 10-8 in the postseason, leading the team to a Super Bowl XLV victory following the 2010 season.

Philbin had a 24-28 record as a head coach in parts of four seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2012-15).

The Packers are 4-7-1 entering Sunday's home game against the Atlanta Falcons.

--Field Level Media