McCarthy’s challenge flag has special message

Flag contains message from daughter

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are off to Seattle to continue preparations for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks.

Coach Mike McCarthy says a Friday departure helps flush away any physical effects of a longer plane ride.

McCarthy will take along the red challenge flag he used that helped propel the Packers to a win over Dallas in the NFC Divisional playoff game. In fact, it’s the flag he’s always carried into games for a good reason.

On WTMJ radio Friday, McCarthy says the flag has a message from his daughter, presumably his oldest child, Alex. WTMJ found a USA TODAY photo of the flag in McCarthy’s back pocket. The handwritten message reads, in part, “With you through every challenge XOXO Goose.”