"It was just my time to go," McCarthy said Thursday, one day after accepting an offer from new San Francisco coach Mike Nolan to be the offensive coordinator with the 49ers. "I had my time here -- five good years. This decision was based on personal growth, both professionally and financially."

McCarthy simply wanted to tackle a new challenge, and the 41-year-old West Coast offense guru needed a life change. That's why he chose last February to decline a two-year contract extension from Saints coach Jim Haslett, and that's why he asked Haslett and General Manager Mickey Loomis for permission to interview with other teams -- even though he was still under contract until Feb. 15.