Sixteen years after defeating Mike Tomlin in Super Bowl XLV, former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is set to take over as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers reached a verbal agreement to hire the 62-year-old, a native of Pittsburgh, making him the fourth head coach for the team since 1969, as announced on Saturday afternoon. McCarthy now holds the distinction of being the oldest head coach in franchise history, surpassing Chuck Noll, who retired just before turning 60.
This decision comes just 11 days after Tomlin informed his team of his resignation after 19 seasons. It marks a notable shift from the team’s traditional approach of hiring young defensive talents with no prior NFL head coaching experience, reflecting a strong intent to pursue immediate success.
After failing to negotiate an extension with the Dallas Cowboys following the 2024 season, McCarthy took the 2025 season off from coaching. He now becomes the first individual to lead three historic NFL franchises: the Steelers, Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers, where he began his head coaching career in 2006 and remained until his dismissal in 2018.
Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor, along with NFL reporters Kevin Seifert, Jeremy Fowler, draft analyst Matt Miller, and analyst Ben Solak, address key questions surrounding McCarthy’s hiring.
Why did the Steelers select Mike McCarthy as their next coach, and how significant was his Pittsburgh background in that decision?
Following Tomlin’s exit on Jan. 13, team president Art Rooney II expressed a desire to compete “from day one,” stating that he was not keen on the term “rebuild.” By choosing McCarthy over younger, less established candidates, Rooney highlighted his commitment to winning now, bringing on the league’s third-oldest active head coach (behind Kansas City’s Andy Reid and John Harbaugh of the New York Giants).
While none of the previous three Steelers head coaches had NFL head coaching experience, McCarthy boasts 310 games of prior experience. He ranks sixth in wins (185) among all NFL coaches over the last two decades, while Tomlin concluded his Steelers tenure with 201 wins, including playoffs.
Rooney’s urgency for change follows another season that ended with a quick playoff exit, following a 30-6 defeat to the Houston Texans during their first home playoff game since 2020. The Steelers last won a playoff game in the 2016 season.
McCarthy holds an 11-11 playoff record, with his last victory coming in a wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2022 season. He has also recorded 11 seasons with at least ten wins since becoming a head coach in 2006, a record tied for fourth-most for coaches during that period.
As a resident of Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood, McCarthy has a deep understanding of the Steelers’ blue-collar culture. Hiring him as a seasoned coach, familiar with both the city and team traditions, allows the Steelers to maintain their old-school essence—something that might have been challenged by a rising young candidate.
Not only is McCarthy familiar with Pittsburgh, but general manager Omar Khan has a history with him from New Orleans. McCarthy served as the Saints’ offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004, and Khan, who began interning with the Saints in 1997, worked closely with McCarthy during that time. — Pryor
How does McCarthy’s hiring affect Aaron Rodgers’ chances of returning next season?
While Rodgers remains an unpredictable factor, there’s optimism within the Steelers’ organization that McCarthy’s hiring may encourage the quarterback to return for at least another season.
Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Steelers last year, leading the team to a 10-7 record and another wild-card playoff spot. While he averaged only 207.6 yards per game—a career low for a season in which he played at least 16 games—his completion percentage rose to 65.7%, the highest since his MVP season in 2021, during which he completed 68.9% of his throws.
Having collaborated for 13 years in Green Bay, McCarthy and Rodgers achieved 107 wins together. This partnership produced four MVP awards for Rodgers and culminated in a Super Bowl XLV victory over a Tomlin-led Steelers team. Should Rodgers return to Pittsburgh to reunite with McCarthy, they would become the ninth head coach-quarterback combination to have coached and started for multiple teams, according to ESPN Research.
even with a somewhat tumultuous relationship during their time together, Rodgers has expressed admiration for McCarthy in recent times, particularly throughout the last season in Pittsburgh, where he shared fond memories of McCarthy’s stories about their hometown. — Pryor
What was the relationship like between Rodgers and McCarthy during their time in Green Bay?
Rodgers and McCarthy spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay, spanning a Super Bowl championship, a 15-1 regular season, along with some turbulent moments. yet, any potential resentment that may have developed during their tenure has since faded.
Speaking in 2022, ahead of a matchup against McCarthy’s Cowboys, Rodgers reflected nostalgically about their shared experiences. He noted that they had re-established regular communication and remarked, “As time goes by, the appreciation for that time increases as you reflect on your career journey. You tend to value the small things more.”
even if there was no discussion regarding a potential reunion at that point, observers felt that Rodgers harbored no lingering grudges. — Seifert
What’s the initial reaction around the league regarding the Steelers’ decision?
The early league response has been one of mild surprise, but not astonishment. McCarthy was well-regarded, given his credentials and connections to Pittsburgh—not just as a local, but because of his past collaboration with Khan in New Orleans over two decades ago.
Rooney has been familiar with McCarthy for many years and feels comfortable with him at the helm. With a winning percentage of .608 over 18 years in Green Bay and Dallas, these factors favor his selection. Yet, considering the team’s history of identifying emerging, youthful head coaches, this choice marks a significant deviation.
“I thought the team would opt for a fresh path with a dynamic young coach they could develop,” a source within the industry commented on Saturday. “McCarthy is undoubtedly a solid coach, yet this doesn’t come off as an inspired hiring.” — Fowler
What does this hiring indicate about the Steelers’ offensive strategy?
While it may not represent a dramatic shift in offensive philosophy, it certainly underscores a commitment to enhance the offense as the Steelers appoint their first offensive-minded head coach since prior to 1969. During McCarthy’s tenure, the Cowboys boasted a top-five scoring offense three times, while the Steelers haven’t achieved that status since 2017, per ESPN Research.
Since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, the Steelers have struggled to consistently move the ball. Regardless of whether Rodgers returns, the team must identify its future quarterback. McCarthy’s experience coaching quarterbacks in Kansas City and Green Bay prior to his role as the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2000 could come into play.
By choosing McCarthy, the Steelers appear hopeful that he can rapidly develop their next quarterback—whether that’s 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard or another potential draft prospect, particularly with the 2026 draft approaching and the Steelers holding the No. 21 overall pick. — Pryor
What are the Steelers’ primary offseason needs, and who might they target with the 21st pick?
The Steelers’ major needs once again revolve around the quarterback position, irrespective of Rodgers’ status this coming season. At the 21st pick, they may consider Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson if he remains available, as his strong pocket presence aligns with McCarthy’s West Coast offense. yet, if Simpson is off the board by the time it’s Pittsburgh’s turn, exploring wide receiver options may be on the table.
The Steelers still require a complementary receiver alongside DK Metcalf, with USC’s Makai Lemon standing out as an ideal No. 2 due to his route-running skills and ability after the catch. — Miller
C. It’s challenging to feel enthusiastic about McCarthy’s third stint as an NFL head coach, particularly when considering the failures at his previous two teams. McCarthy led the Cowboys to three consecutive playoff appearances over five seasons, but never advanced past the divisional round, even with a talented quarterback like Dak Prescott. In his 13-season tenure with the Packers, he secured one Super Bowl (in 2010) yet failed to return for the next eight years. He was dismissed largely due to the offense becoming stagnant and the lack of postseason success during Rodgers’ prime. So why should Pittsburgh fans reasonably anticipate McCarthy to address their playoff struggles, especially considering he’s facing a quarterback dilemma unprecedented for him? — Solak How would you rate the hire?
